Scheme ‘fairer’ for airport
Christchurch Airport would get a fairer share of revenue from aircraft using it under the proposed rationalised airport financing scheme, according to its director, Mr Hugh McCarroll.
The Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Prebble, announced the scheme, which will be introduced later this year, in Christchurch last Friday. The differential charging to finance airports and the airways system would mean users paid appropriate fees to the cost of running and maintaining airports, Mr Prebble said.
The cost of a new airport terminal at a particular airport would be borne by the users of that airport rather than by taxpayers. Mr McCarroll said he believed the new scheme would be more equitable for Christchurch than existing charges. j
He had not seen the details but believed that the ratio at which the revenue would be divided between the airport and the Government would be fixed for all airports. At present, a ratio existed for each airport, with Christchurch considerably disadvantaged on a low ratio.
International aircraft were levied per 1000 kg of weight. The levy was paid to the Government for the airways systems, which included air traffic control and radio beacons, and to the airport for development.
In July, 1980, the Civil Aviation Charges Regulations were adjusted so that of the levy of $5.75 per 1000 kg the Government received $4.75 and Christchurch Airport, $l. In Wellington, the Government got $3.60 and Wellington Airport, $2.15. Since 1980 the charges
had been revised three times. Christchurch Airport received $1 and Wellington Airport $4.75 of the present $9 levy. Mr McCarroll said he believed that a fixed proportion of the levy for all airports would balance the account to bring Christchurch back to a par with other airports and prevent manipulation of funds to channel money into the joint venture Wellington Airport.
Christchurch had been the only large airport that had its share of the levy reduced in 1980 from $2.15 to $l. Domestic airlines paid their levy quarterly. Their levy was set as 11 per cent of revenue. In Christchurch the 11 per cent was made up of 9 per cent of revenue going to the Government and 2 per cent to the airport. In Wellington the Government got 6.5 per cent and the airport 4.5 per cenf
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Press, 13 March 1985, Page 9
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381Scheme ‘fairer’ for airport Press, 13 March 1985, Page 9
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