Billie Moore: Airports Association CEO on the Commerce Commission's decision to rule out an airport regulation inquiry

Satisfaction on both sides over the Commerce Commission's decision regarding Air New Zealand's airport cost concerns.  

The Commission's announced it won't investigate airport regulation but will look into how much information airports should give airlines on major upgrades.  

Air New Zealand says it's pleasantly surprised by the outcome.  

Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge it's constructive.  

But she says it's also about balance, as while Air New Zealand say they might pay half a billion in fees, Auckland is their biggest hub. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The ComCom says it won't investigate sky high airport costs
despite pressure from airlines. Instead, it'll tighten rules next year
to better monitor big airport projects in New Zealand, as
you know, has publicly had beef about this. They say
fees have more than doubled in two years in Auckland,
could cost them half a billion bucks by twenty thirty two.
Billy Moore is New Zealand Airport's Association Chief executive. Billy

(00:21):
good morning, good morning. So you're not you're not off
scot free here the airports. So there is going to
be a bit more monitoring, a couple of changes made,
but no investigation.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Yeah, that's right. It's not a it's a constructive outcome
to work on the information disclosure of regime. But you
know it is all about balance in the system here
in New Zealand has made that claim as you have said.
But while they say they might pay half a billion
dollars in fees, look at New Zealand, Auckland is their

(00:53):
biggest hubs. Are also are protected to make from that
six point five billion dollars by twenty thirty two. So
while it might be one of their biggest costs that
they're managing. It's also one of the places where they
make the most money.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Why are you charging so much? Is it just because
you're doing the upgrades and once that's done things we
back to normal or what.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Auckland Airport's fees are about where most international airport fees sits.
They're not particularly high. They've been up maybe a dollar
fifty a year over the past few years, and some
of it is about stabilizing fees after them being extremely
low for about at least a decade.

Speaker 1 (01:33):
That's right, Why would they low for a decade?

Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, it's taken a long time for Aucland Airport to
get its infrastructure build progressing, and part of the reasons
for that has been resistance from the airlines over that time,
trying to delay the build and reduce it, which means
that the costs now will be a little bit steeper
than they otherwise would have been a progress I've been
made earlier.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Appreciate your time, Billy Billy Moore, New Zealand Reports are
so Siation Chief Executive.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
Listen live to news talks it be from five am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio,