According to a recently released Productivity Commission draft report, Australia’s five major airports have been found not to
be misusing their market power in setting car parking and land access rates.
The report, entitled ‘Economic Regulation of Airport Services’, differed from
the findings of the report into airport parking prices by the Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission released in 2010.
The Australian Airports Association welcomed the
latest report, saying it confirmed there was little need to monitor the
nation’s airports more tightly.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, Auckland International
Airport Limited has released their performance for the 2011 financial year,
posting a solid +15.1% increase in underlying profit to NZ$120.87 million.
The Moodie Report claimed that total income grew +9.5%
to NZ$397.72 million (US$328.97 million), with two of the key drivers of this
revenue growth were “better than expected” retail results in the new
departures area and a stronger yield in car parking, particularly through the new online booking channel.
At 30 June 2011, the airport had parking facilities
for 7,988 cars, the same as the prior year. Despite no change in the number of
spaces available, car park income increased +7.7% to NZ$33.437 million
(US$27.66 million). According to the airport, this growth has been driven by
continued promotional activity, a refinement of product offerings, including a
valet car cleaning service, a full year of online booking capability and
passenger growth. View the full results and report here.