Travellers may be tapped $5

Air travellers could be asked to pay $5 more to fly out of Auckland instead of benefiting from changes to how the airport security levy is collected.

Auckland Airport's departure tax of $25, paid by passengers on international flights, includes a $5 charge for security services.

But from October 1 the collection of the security charge becomes the responsibility of airlines and they may choose to pass it on in fares.

Yesterday, the airport company said it would keep its departure tax at $25 rather than pass on the $5 saving.

Chief executive Don Huse said the money was needed to develop the terminal. The company expected to spend $125 million a year for the next three years on expansion and improvement projects.

He said the airlines had been consulted through the Board of Airline Representatives of New Zealand (Barnz) and it had said the $25 levy was justified given the extensive terminal expansion programme.

Stewart Milne, of Barnz, said the board argued that the levy should drop to $20 unless there was a reason.

"But given the massive development programme, it's clear they are going to need the departure charge of around $25.

"We said it would make no sense to drop the charge down to $20 for six months or so, and when they started new development to put it up to $25 again," said Mr Milne.

Consumers' Institute chief executive David Russell said Auckland Airport had a virtual monopoly and consumers had a right to demand accountability from it.

Mr Huse said the airport had to clear any charges through Barnz, and if it did not "we'd be dumped on by the Government".