Aviation Industry Association (AIANZ) has commented in the latest NZ Herald Premium article quoted below, regarding Airways pricing increases.
A potential air traffic controller shortage, digital control towers and a series of price hikes are among issues raised since the Airways New Zealand price increase was proposed.
Airways, the air traffic management service provider, proposed an average annual price increase of 7.7% for airline customers.
The price hike is an irritant for some in the sector, already annoyed at Civil Aviation Authority fees rising and the International Visitor Levy more than doubling.
The price increase is for a three-year period starting on July 1. Consultation opened on March 5, the same day the proposal was announced.
[Speaking to NZ Herald,] the Aviation Industry Association (AIANZ) said four weeks for submissions was not good enough. It said Airways played a vital role but the industry was facing serious challenges:“The agricultural aviators are enduring a difficult trading period not experienced for some decades, flight training organisations have not seen student numbers recover to anywhere near 2019 levels and tourism has not got back to where it was pre-pandemic.”
Read the full NZ Herald article by John Weekes here.