International passengers flying from Queenstown Airport will no longer have to pay $25 as a departure fee, but the money will be recouped in landing charges to airlines, through growth in passenger numbers.
Queenstown Airport announced yesterday it removed the fee with immediate effect as it prepared to introduce new landing charges on July 1.
Airline charges were to reduce by $1.61 per international passenger, but domestic passengers would pay slightly more. Charges would increase by 9c for jet passengers and $1.99 for turboprop passengers.
Airport chief executive Scott Paterson told the Otago Daily Times yesterday scrapping the fee would "take away a lot of frustration". The departure fee was collected post check-in and sometimes people waiting to go through security were sent back because they had not paid.
It would make things flow more smoothly and remove frustration for people who had spent most, if not all, of their money, "and turn up at the airport thinking everything's been paid for on their return flight and the airport's sitting there with a hand out for another $25".
Mr Paterson said the trend within the New Zealand airport industry was to bundle the fee into airline pricing. The move was negotiated with airlines over five to six months and landing charges were now finalised.
"The fee was abolished and we've been able to reduce the international passenger fee at the same time, and that's due to growth and passenger numbers," he said.
Asked if the international departure fee was a significant revenue stream for the airport and its shareholders, Lakes district ratepayers and Auckland International Airport, Mr Paterson said the loss would be recovered from airport growth.
"It's not a loss or a hit to revenue, it's more a different way of collecting it," he said.
Queenstown Airport landing charges were last reviewed in 2004.
