Travellers to meet cost of security

By SCOTT MacLEOD

Domestic air travellers will pay more for their tickets next year to finance extra security at airports.

The Government said yesterday that from April 1 airlines would be charged $2.80 for each passenger on aircraft with more than 89 seats to pay for security screening.

Airlines are likely to pass on the "user-pays" fees to passengers - the latest in a series of insurance, regulatory and security costs being applied to travellers and freight exporters.

Most of the fees are the result of the September 11 terror attacks.

Aviation security costs New Zealand $8.2 million each year, and the taxpayer has already spent $3.1 million on security since the attacks.

The new fee means taxpayers will no longer finance the security checks.

Transport Minister Mark Gosche said the Government had opted to recover costs from those who benefit - airlines and travellers.

Security was "essential for the safety of New Zealand airline passengers" and to enhance the country's reputation as a safe place to travel.

Other increases being passed on to travellers and exporters by some airlines include an existing security charge, freight-checking or "terminal document" fees of between $20 and $30, fuel surcharges and higher insurance charges.

Small importers and exporters are groaning at the costs, because many of the fees are standard regardless of the size and weight of each shipment.

The managing director of flower exporter Eastern and Global, Greg Keymer, said his firm was now paying up to $70 in fees for each small shipment of flowers - tens of thousands of dollars a year.

"For the airlines it's a nice, subtle way of revenue collecting," he said. "But it's getting to be huge for us."

Domestic passengers go through security screens at six airports - Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.

Domestic security screening was brought in after September 11 as a temporary measure, but will become permanent from today.