Australia’s competition watchdog has warned airports over gouging airline customers for inflated fee increases.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said he has received complaints from airlines about big increases as airports look to recoup losses from the pandemic travel slowdown.
Sims said the ACCC will closely scrutinise airport pricing and take action if necessary.
"We would be very concerned if the major Australian airports sought to use their monopoly position to charge airlines excessive prices. This could limit an already vulnerable sector’s ability to recover, and impact on both consumers and the economy," Sims said.
The Australian Airports Association (AAA) said any accusations of gouging were ‘completely speculative, with no justification, details or examples provided.’
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said airports were acting ‘very aggressively’ to recoup their losses and cited one unnamed regional airport which planned to more than double passenger fees.
