The competition watchdog has slammed Australia’s five largest airports for deteriorating service levels.
It named Sydney Airport as the worst offender.
In its annual report on the state of the country’s airports, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission called for increased investment to avoid excessive congestion in the future.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the overall level of service at the largest airports – including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – was lower in the 2011-12 financial year compared with 2010-11 despite them continuing to be profitable.
The ACCC takes into account the views of passengers, airlines and border agencies.
For the first time since 2007-08, the regulator said none of the five airports achieved an overall rating of at least “good”.
“It is apparent that continued growth in passenger numbers at most airports is placing pressure on existing aeronautical infrastructure, contributing to lower service standards,” Sims said.
Sims said Sydney Airport was of greatest concern given the “pattern of price and earnings increases, lower service standards and low investment levels compared with other airports”.
Brisbane Airport received the highest ranking for quality of service, followed by Adelaide Airport which recorded falls in passenger numbers, average revenues and margins in 2011-12.
Perth Airport saw a massive 20% rise in domestic passenger numbers while international passengers were seven per cent higher.
