According to Airports Council International (ACI) and the Australian Airports Association (AAA), Australian airport revenue has allowed the country’s airports to finance much needed infrastructure, services and operations, with over $11.5 billion on airport improvements over the last decade without taxpayer funding.
ACI World Director General, Angela Gittens, speaking at a gathering of aviation stakeholders in Sydney, said that claims by some that airport privatisation has increased costs for users are not supported by evidence.
Ms Gittens said over the last 20 years, Australian airports have delivered better terminals, better services, and more choice than ever before for passengers. In delivering these benefits to passengers, Australia’s airports have invested $11.5 billion on airport improvements over the last decade, even with airfares decreasing.
The 2017 ICAO/Industry Aviation Benefits Report made several recommendations to governments to maximize the benefits of aviation and Australia has been a global role model in keeping charges at a level that encourages passenger and traffic growth. This is facilitated by the liberalisation of airport ownership combined with light-touch economic regulation.
ACI World and AAA continue to highlight that any regulatory framework must facilitate and incentivise airport investment that drives connectivity, passenger service quality, and, ultimately, wider economic growth and job creation.
“In an increasingly commercial and competitive business environment, airports must be able to collect sufficient revenues to finance their investments in airport infrastructure and operations,” Ms Gittens said.
“This is crucial as it allows airports to maintain service levels to passengers and airlines.
“For Australia, we forecast a 20 year cumulative average growth rate of 3.7 per cent, with annual passenger traffic reaching 321 million by 2040. To keep pace with this demand, Australian airports must be able to invest, improve and grow. Aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues are the major sources of funds for airports to invest in infrastructure and service improvements.
“To this end, privatisation has been a way to finance much needed infrastructure investments, and Australian airports continue to be able to finance their operations and development. Thanks to their revenues – major projects such as the Brisbane Airport runway, now under construction, and planned new runways at Melbourne and Perth airports, are good examples of airport investment increasing capacity.”
Chief Executive Officer at Australian Airports Association, Caroline Wilkie, said that Australia’s airports are investing in runways, terminals and technology to make it easier, cheaper and more enjoyable for passengers to fly.
“Our regulatory approach here in Australia fosters collaboration with airline and government partners to direct investment where it is needed most and put passengers at the centre of the decision-making process. This has unquestionably delivered significant benefits for Australian travelers and our growing visitor economy.
“It comes as no surprise that successive Australian governments and Productivity Commission reviews have endorsed the current regulatory approach. It has been shown to encourage strong competition between airlines and has overseen a period where international airfares have fallen in real terms.
“Airports have also invested to manage significant growth, without putting a burden on the taxpayer in the same way as other forms of infrastructure. These are significant benefits that are supporting the growth of our economy and tourism industry.”
