I A T A Blasts Planned Airport Fee Increase

[sriracha john]

IATA blasts planned airport fee increase

Claims AoT is abusing monopoly

Geneva _ The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is stepping up efforts to prevent an increase in airline charges at Suvarnabhumi Airport planned for April. Giovanni Bisignani, the director-general of the association that represents more than 250 international carriers, recently wrote Transport Minister Adm Theera Haocharoen about the need to reopen talks over the 15% rise in landing and parking charges at Bangkok's new airport.

The Geneva-based organisation seems determined to renew a vigorous campaign against the Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) to stop the "unjustified" fee rise, which it says would pressure carriers already hard-pressed to cut costs. IATA is even prepared to publicly embarrass AoT, and Thailand as a whole, to

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/18Dec2006_biz10.php

[ilyushin]

Hope they are successful in keeping the Tax at Baht 500.

[bendix]

I dont know this for a fact, but I'd hazard a guess and say that the airport departure tax in Thailand is pretty low compared to others. We notice it only because it's more visible and in most countries it's included in the price of the air ticket.

From memory, in those countries which don't hide it the departure taxes are NZ$25 in New Zealand, US$25 in Cambodia (on top of the U$20 to get in), US$11 in the Philippines and RP100,000 (or US11) in Indonesia, again that's in addition to a minimal $10 entry fee for a week or US$25 for longer.

We don't have it so bad.

[sriracha john]

but then again... the departure tax is not what this thread is about...

Jeff Poole, director for charges, fuel and taxation for IATA, maintained that IATA saw no reason for any increase in charges by AoT because air-traffic growth was strong and AoT, 70% state owned, was already a very profitable enterprise. In its filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, AoT posted a 41% jump in net profit for its 2006 fiscal year that ended on Sept 30 to 10.4 billion baht

Edited December 18, 2006 by sriracha john

[wpcoe]

Interesting little chart. ICN doesn't charge airlines anything???

[brahmburgers]

It's interesting when Thai authorities in general get to ruminating among themselves for long periods, and then come up with policies - then "WHAM' sometimes a blast from an international organization can have a sobering effect. This happens with 'corruption indexes' and int'l reports regarding 'level of English proficiency' and such.

I hope airport authorities do all they can to try to keep prices as reasonably low as possible.

[Donz]

Having a new airport I thought would be enough reasons to increase the tax

[Rinrada]

IATA has categorised AoT as one of the worst offenders, in addition to airport operators in Paris, London, Argentina and Auckland, for abusing its monopoly.

Its revived crusade against AoT came with Mr Bisignani's disclosure that Bangkok was one of three airports, together with Paris and Heathrow, contributing to the bulk of airport cost increases for IATA members this year

Dont know about Paris but then they arrrrr french and suppose with all those expensive cappo-chinos and baguettes they need the dosh...

London ...over "ere is one BIG RIP OFFand the old BAA ...British Airport Authority which has now been bought out by a Port and Cheese Company has already been recognised by none other but our o so whiter than white Brit Government who have already made clear their intention to break up this "abusive rip off"MONOPOLY....so wots chance of doing that in LOS....NIL me thinks....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$