A RECENT hike in landing fees at Darwin Airport has been referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by Labor Party Minister Luke Gosling, who described the move as “an unreasonable cash grab”.
The increase by Darwin’s Airport Development Group (ADG) has seen carriers landing at the airport charged an extra 110%, moving the previous fee of $36.39 to $77.71.
Gosling, a Darwin-based MP, told the ABC the changes make Darwin Airport the country’s most expensive hub.
“It is an unacceptable increase in my view,” Gosling argued.
“I will be doing what I can with the ACCC around this power imbalance between the monopoly ADG, who runs the airport and sets the fees, and smaller operators,” he added.
Charter carriers Hardy Aviation and Fly Tiwi have already raised their passenger airfares in response, with fears that major players like Qantas and Virgin Australia will do the same.
“Unfortunately, that reality is that the airlines will seek to pass on some of those costs, which makes it even harder for [the Darwin tourism economy],” Gosling said. AB
