Wirraway
15th Jun 2004, 09:07
Mon "Sunshine Coast Daily"
Monday, 14th June 2004.
Sky high fees 'not on'
Planned new airport charges spark angry response
By DAMIAN BATHERSBY [email protected]
AIR services to the Sunshine Coast will be drastically slashed if authorities go ahead with plans to impose huge cost increases on airlines.
And the effects won't be confined to the larger airlines, with a number of smaller operators, flying schools and ancillary services also expected to be hit hard.
The increases are being proposed by Airservices Australia, the federal government body which provides air traffic control, air navigation support and aviation rescue and fire fighting services.
It plans to increase the Maroochydore Airport landing fee from $7.42/tonne to $16.98/tonne as part of a fiveyear pricing plan which would ultimately see it hit $20.40/tonne.
At the same time, increased use of the airport now requires it to have its own aviation rescue and firefighting service and the airlines will be hit with a new $25.72/tonne charge to meet the cost.
If the airlines choose to pass the entire imposts onto passengers, it couldadd as much as $11.75 to the price of a Sunshine Express ticket to Maroochydore, $15.20 to a Virgin Blue ticket and $16.95 to Jetstar's price.
Sunshine Express officials have warned they will have to consider axing theairline's Sunshine Coast services if the extra fees are imposed.
"But it's not only us who will be affected, the big guys (Jetstar and Virgin Blue) are up in arms as well,'' said Sunshine Express general manager Darren Moncrieff.
"If it goes ahead it will have a dramatic effect on us and we will have to assess our position at Maroochydore.
"The chances are we'll either have to disappear all together or turn Maroochydore into a maintenance base without air services.'' The airline was formed on the Sunshine Coast in 1998, employs 35 people and carries more than 76,000 passengers each year on its routes throughout south-east Qld and northern NSW.
Mr Moncrieff said the proposed rescue and firefighting "per tonne'' charge was the highest in Australia because Maroochydore Airport had the least number of aircraft movements of all sites requiring the service.
A better, more cost-effective solution would be to use Queensland Fire Service crews rather than Airservices Australia's more expensive outfits.
"It would be a lot cheaper to provide another tender at the local fire brigade and a couple of extra men.
The major airlines will be able to spread the cost over their whole operation, but as a smaller operator we will be fighting to get the regulations changed or get some sort of exemption.
"Members of the public have to make their voice heard to the government if they don't want their air services to suffer.''
Airservices Australia officials will meet with affected parties at the airport tomorrow and Graeme Gillies, from local company Blue Tongue Helicopter Service, will be making his views heard.
He has warned he and many other smaller operators will have to move to Caloundra Airport if the charges are imposed.
"It's our worst fear because we can't afford to absorb those sort of costs and still remain competitive,'' he said.
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Monday, 14th June 2004.
Sky high fees 'not on'
Planned new airport charges spark angry response
By DAMIAN BATHERSBY [email protected]
AIR services to the Sunshine Coast will be drastically slashed if authorities go ahead with plans to impose huge cost increases on airlines.
And the effects won't be confined to the larger airlines, with a number of smaller operators, flying schools and ancillary services also expected to be hit hard.
The increases are being proposed by Airservices Australia, the federal government body which provides air traffic control, air navigation support and aviation rescue and fire fighting services.
It plans to increase the Maroochydore Airport landing fee from $7.42/tonne to $16.98/tonne as part of a fiveyear pricing plan which would ultimately see it hit $20.40/tonne.
At the same time, increased use of the airport now requires it to have its own aviation rescue and firefighting service and the airlines will be hit with a new $25.72/tonne charge to meet the cost.
If the airlines choose to pass the entire imposts onto passengers, it couldadd as much as $11.75 to the price of a Sunshine Express ticket to Maroochydore, $15.20 to a Virgin Blue ticket and $16.95 to Jetstar's price.
Sunshine Express officials have warned they will have to consider axing theairline's Sunshine Coast services if the extra fees are imposed.
"But it's not only us who will be affected, the big guys (Jetstar and Virgin Blue) are up in arms as well,'' said Sunshine Express general manager Darren Moncrieff.
"If it goes ahead it will have a dramatic effect on us and we will have to assess our position at Maroochydore.
"The chances are we'll either have to disappear all together or turn Maroochydore into a maintenance base without air services.'' The airline was formed on the Sunshine Coast in 1998, employs 35 people and carries more than 76,000 passengers each year on its routes throughout south-east Qld and northern NSW.
Mr Moncrieff said the proposed rescue and firefighting "per tonne'' charge was the highest in Australia because Maroochydore Airport had the least number of aircraft movements of all sites requiring the service.
A better, more cost-effective solution would be to use Queensland Fire Service crews rather than Airservices Australia's more expensive outfits.
"It would be a lot cheaper to provide another tender at the local fire brigade and a couple of extra men.
The major airlines will be able to spread the cost over their whole operation, but as a smaller operator we will be fighting to get the regulations changed or get some sort of exemption.
"Members of the public have to make their voice heard to the government if they don't want their air services to suffer.''
Airservices Australia officials will meet with affected parties at the airport tomorrow and Graeme Gillies, from local company Blue Tongue Helicopter Service, will be making his views heard.
He has warned he and many other smaller operators will have to move to Caloundra Airport if the charges are imposed.
"It's our worst fear because we can't afford to absorb those sort of costs and still remain competitive,'' he said.
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