The ACCC does not object to a proposal by Airservices Australia to increase prices for some of its monopoly services, such as air traffic control, from 1 July 2013. Airservices Australia provides air traffic control and aviation fire-fighting and rescue services to airports and airlines.
The ACCC assesses notifications of proposed price increases by Airservices Australia.
This proposal will put into effect the third year of Airservices’ five-year pricing agreement, which was approved by the ACCC in 2011.
In summary:
- Terminal navigation (TN) charges will increase at 23 airports by between 0.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent, and will fall at six airports by between 1.0 and 5.0 per cent.
- Charges for aviation rescue and fire-fighting (ARFF) services will increase at 21 airports by between 2.5 per cent and 10.2 per cent, and will fall at two airports by between 1.0 per cent and 10.0 per cent.
- Charges for en route services will fall by between 0.7 per cent and 1.1 per cent.
- A charge is added for a new ARFF service at Port Hedland
- Out-of-hours charges for TN and ARFF services are also included.
“Since the ACCC approved the pricing proposal in 2011, Airservices has improved consultation with industry on capital expenditure. While progress is being made, work still needs to be done to drive further improvements in efficiency,” ACCC Commissioner Joe Dimasi said.
The ACCC consulted on this proposed price increase with Airservices’ stakeholders, including airlines and aviation representative bodies.
Airservices intends to implement its proposed prices on 1 July 2013.
Further information is available at Airservices Australia 2013