Page 74 - AA 2018_11

Writing in Qantas’s submission to
Brisbane Airport’s parrallel
runway should open in the commission, Parker said airport
charges were the airline group’s fourth-
2020. bac
largest cost after fuel, fleet and staff.
Further, Parker said Qantas’s costs
excluding fuel and airport charges
had fallen four per cent in real terms
since 2014/15, while charges it paid to
airports had grown 6.5 per cent above
inflation.
“As natural monopolies, Australian
airports have no effective competition
or reason to change or innovate,”
Parker said.
“There is no effective regulation
to contain airport price increases
and price gouging, or to encourage
operational efficiencies or improved
quality of services.
“While we negotiate successfully
with other suppliers to reduce costs
and ultimately deliver better airfares
and travel experiences for passengers,
charges by Australian monopoly
airports are largely non-negotiable.”

74 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION