Higher Fees Predicted

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 3

Higher Fees Predicted

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, June 16. Air New Zealand may have to pay heavily increased air navigation charges for the right to land in Australia following this year’s Federal Budget, which is due in August. Unofficial reports in Australian newspapers say that the charges, imposed by the Department of Civil Aviation, are under review and are likely to rise in the first budget of Mr William McMahon.

The Australian charges were described by the International Civil Aviation Organisation last year as the highest in the world.

Any increase would come at a time when international airlines are urging a reduction in fares, particularly in the Pacific area, to boost tourism. This matter will be discussed at the next I.A.T.A. meeting in September. At present Air New Zealand pays about £259 each time it lands one of its DCB jets with an all-up weight of 316,0001 b, in Australia. The fee for an Electra is reported to be a little less.

At peak travel periods Air New Zealand has about 35 flights a week landing in Australia, excluding through services to Hong Kong and Singapore, which also are subject to land fees. The Australian Government raised air navigation charges by 10 per cent in the 1962 budget, and has continued to

do so each year, in spite of protests by the I.A.T.A. that the charges were becoming unreasonable.

The newspaper reports have stated that the travel industry is opposed to increased charges because this would discourage tourism to Australia. They say that the airlines could be forced to apply for higher fares to counter the rise in charges. The Assistant General Manager of Air New Zealand, in Auckland, Captain J. C. McGrane, said tonight that no official word had been received that the Australian Government proposed to increase air navigation charges. “If they do we have no right of appeal,” he said. “It just becomes law and nothing can be done about it.”