Airlines reel as Acsa hikes tariff

A shocking price increase has hit the SA air cargo industry as the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) shoots up its tariff rate by a whopping 18.5% for financial year 2009/10. And this, John Morrison, CEO of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), told FTW was a whole lot less than Acsa had previously applied for – having originally asked the airports regulator for an extremely optimistic 46% increase, almost four-times the worst of the SA inflation rates. Although the regulator told them this was “too high”, Morrison added, Acsa’s second application was for 25%. But the regulator took his red pen and struck the increase down to 18.5%, which Morrison felt was still generous – especially at a time when most private sector businesses are looking at single digit increases in their prices/rates. It’s going to cost the air cargo airlines a whole 18.5% more for landing fees and parking fees for each aircraft, Morrison told FTW. And, added Alwyn Rautenbach, MD of Airlink Cargo, and chairman of the Air Cargo Operators’ Committee (Acoc), there’s more bad news. The department of transport’s Air Traffic and Navigational Services (ATNS) – who guide all aircraft through SA airspace – have also been looking for an increase in fees, with the regulator pruning their original 29% demand down to an awarded 11% hike. That, Rautenbach told FTW, slaps up the approach fees and overflying fees that all air cargo aircraft have to pay.