Watchdog to look at airport parking fees

[Ryan N]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/airp...420251032.html

Watchdog to look at airport parking fees
April 7, 2008

THE cost of parking at five capital city airports is to be investigated because of concerns the public is being ripped off.

The Federal Government will tell the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to restart monitoring of short and long-term car parking at Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane airports.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said parking fees at some airports were high by international standards, and there was genuine concern about airports using their monopoly position to exploit the public.

Sydney Airport charges $13 for the first hour of parking, double the fee at JFK Airport in New York. Melbourne Airport charges $10.

The ACCC had previously monitored airport parking fees but this program lapsed last year.

"The previous government allowed the ACCC monitoring program to lapse at the very time total car parking revenue reached an unprecedented $206 million — not a good time for government to take its eyes off the ball," Mr Albanese said.

Last financial year Melbourne Airport grossed $68.7 million from parking fees, almost double the total of four years earlier. Car parking charges made up 18% of its total revenue, the highest percentage of Australia's five big airports.

A spokesman for Melbourne Airport said about $70 million had been invested in car parking at Melbourne Airport in the past five years.

"We have just started work on a $60 million upgrade of short-term car parks, adding around 3000 more spaces, simply because consumers demand it," he said.

"If consumer demand is so strong, obviously we are going to be receiving revenue."

Melbourne Airport competed with about seven other private long-term car parks, and its prices compared favourably with off-site competitors, the spokesman said.