reprinted from the Dominion (Wellington, NZ)
Airport levy excess may lead to cut
By Denise McNabb Travellers could see a drop in airport departure fees after next year if excess funds in Aviation Security Service coffers are any indication. The service is about to
issue its annual report, which will show it has over-collected revenue by
$304,000 this year. This follows a deficit last year. Should it
over-collect next year, it is required by law to reduce fees. The money is from a
levy on every airport for departing passengers over the age of two. It
funds security costs. The security service
gets $3.41 plus gst (rounding it up to $4) a person. Airports can pay the
charge from general revenue but most include it in departure fees that
also usually includes an international safety levy of $1 paid to the Civil
Aviation Authority as well as airport charges to cover general costs. In Wellington, the fee
is $25. In Auckland, it increased from $20 to $22 last month. Auckland airport chief
executive John Goulter said yesterday that the airport picked up the
security fee charge for all children up to the age of 12. But the airport still
generated $1.5 million more than was needed for its security requirements
this year because it has the biggest airline traffic and 1.7 million
international visitors. New Zealand's total visitor traffic is growing by
5 or 6 per cent a year. Wellington's growth is static. Aviation Security
Service general manager Mark Everitt said yesterday that the service
reduced its fees in 1997 from $5 a person to $4 but the $1 reduction was
redirected to the Civil Aviation Authority. He said he would like
to see cheaper fees, but airports were under no obligation to bring them
down if less money was sent to the security service. His office was doing
an extensive audit and would present a submission to the transport
minister. |