ACCC approves new apron walkway at Canberra Airport

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not to object to a small increase in aeronautical charges to fund a new walkway linking Canberra Airport's new apron with the central terminal area.

"The walkway is an integral part of Canberra Airport's recently opened apron extension", ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today. "The new apron is a common user facility that will be available to all airlines. It will cater for Impulse Airlines and other new entrants as well as catering for growth by Qantas and Ansett.

"The new walkway will maximise the flexibility of the new apron. It will allow passengers of any airline access to the new apron.

"The ACCC has approved a charge on the airlines of 10.5c per arriving and departing passenger".

The ACCC obtained comments from airport users on Canberra Airport's proposals and had regard to these in reaching its decision.

Background

The regulatory arrangements covering price-capped airports allow airport operators to apply to the ACCC to recover the costs of 'necessary new infrastructure' expenditure by imposing increases outside the price cap. These provision are designed to provide incentives for the timely development of necessary new aeronautical infrastructure.