Mount Isa Airport owners Queensland Airports Limited have defended their pricing structure ahead of the federal senate inquiry in the industry in rural and regional areas next year.
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Mount Isa Airport chief operating officer Kevin Gill told the North West Star airport charges typically made up only a small component of air fares.
“Our focus is on stimulating passenger demand and that’s good for airports and good for our communities,” Mr Gill said.
Our focus is on stimulating passenger demand and that’s good for airports and good for our communities
- Kevin Gill
Mr Gill said a recent inquiry held by the Western Australian parliament into the cost of regional air fares found airport charges were not a driving factor in the problem.
“That report noted that airports were open and transparent in regards their charges,” he said.
“Our charges are published on our wesbite and freely available to the public.”
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Mr Gill admitted Mount Isa charges were higher than its coastal airports but that was a function of volume.
“Every airport typically has to have one runway and one terminal and larger airports have economies of scale.”
Mr Gill said QAL would be making a submission into the upcoming inquiry saying their focus would be affordable air transport options for their airports.
During the election campaign Labor candidate Danielle Slade suggested airport fees were part of the problem.
“If QAL are serious about helping regional Queensland with affordable airfare prices, reducing airport fees into Mount Isa’s airport, making us competitive with Townsville and Gold Coast airports, would be a huge step in the right direction,” Ms Slade said in a letter to the Star.
“This would put Mount Isa on an even playing field which could be an incentive for airlines to increase their flights and attract other airline companies to this area, creating competition and more volume for the airport. Mount Isa doesn’t have the same traffic as Townsville and Gold Coast airports, but we also don’t have the same expenses and infrastructure.”
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