Australia puts a AUD23 per tonne price on carbon; airlines to be hit hard
Sections of the Australian aviation industry, especially regional carriers, have expressed concern with the Federal Government's introduction of a carbon price system from 01-Jul-2012, while major carriers are warning of fare increases to recoup rising fuel costs. Domestic airlines will not have access to transitional assistance or compensation arrangements. International aviation fuel will be excluded from the carbon price scheme.
- The Australian government has introduced a carbon price system for the aviation industry, causing concerns among regional carriers and warnings of fare increases from major carriers.
- Domestic aviation fuel excise will be increased annually by an amount equivalent to the carbon price, with rates rising over the fixed price period.
- Qantas estimates the cost impact of the scheme to be around AUD110-115 million, leading to fare increases of approximately AUD3.50 per domestic flight sector in FY2013.
- Virgin Australia expects a cost impact of around AUD45 million and plans to pass on the additional costs to consumers, resulting in an average domestic fare increase of approximately AUD3 per flight sector.
- Regional Express (Rex) expresses disappointment with the carbon tax, citing adverse government measures and predicting financial strain on regional operators.
- The introduction of the carbon price system, along with the upcoming European Emissions Trading System, poses a threat to the aviation industry and could lead to uncoordinated taxes and charges becoming a global issue.
Effective 01-Jul-2012, domestic aviation fuel excise will be increased by an amount equivalent to the carbon price of AUD23 (USD21.40) per tonne on an annual basis over the fixed price period to "provide an effective carbon price for aviation", according to government papers.
The current rate of excise on aviation (both aviation kerosene and aviation gasoline) is 3.556 cents per litre. Over the period, the excise rate for aviation kerosene would rise by 6.604 cents per litre to 10.16 cents per litre in 2014-15, and the excise rate for aviation gasoline would rise by 5.588 cents per litre to 9.144 cents per litre. The vast majority of fuel used in aviation is aviation kerosene. From 01-Jul-2015, aviation excise will be increased on a six-monthly basis, based on the average carbon price over the previous six months.
Australian carbon price impact on aviation fuel, cents per litre
Qantas sees AUD3.50 hike in fares
Qantas estimates the cost impact of the scheme of approximately AUD110-115 million on the Qantas Group in the financial year ending 30-Jun-2013. The airline stated, "In the context of the significant challenges facing the global aviation industry, the Qantas Group will be unable to absorb the additional costs associated with the carbon price and there will be a full pass-through to customers." Based on the estimated additional costs, the Qantas Group expects that the price of a single domestic flight sector will increase on average by approximately AUD3.50 in FY2013. Fare increases will vary depending on sector length and will be communicated transparently to consumers.
Virgin Australia stated that, based on current domestic fuel consumption, the estimated cost impact in FY2013 is around AUD45 million. The airline stated it will not be able to absorb the additional costs of the price on carbon "and consequently these costs will be passed in full to consumers", adding that initial modelling indicates an average domestic fare increase per flight sector of approximately AUD3, which will vary depending on sector length. Virgin stated it is "too early" to accurately forecast the impact of passenger demand as a consequence of the carbon price regime and said that any change in fares as a result of the proposed price on carbon will be communicated to customers.
Regional Express (Rex) has expressed its strong disappointment to the carbon tax. Chief Operating Officer, Chris Hine, said that regional air services are facing an "avalanche" of adverse government measures, including:
- removal of the en-route rebate scheme for regional airline;
- additional fuel excise to increase funding to CASA;
- increased security screening at regional ports.
"The combined effect of these measures on Rex alone would equate to at least AUD6 million per annum." Mr Hine said, adding, "I foresee many regional operators without the financial strength and diversification of the Rex Group being forced out of business once these take effect".
Discounted fares falling, business rising
Discounted air fares in Australia, like other deregulated markets, have been falling in recent years. Since July-2003, passengers spending $100 on the cheapest available fares would be spending roughly $70 now. Business passenger, where Qantas has until recently had virtually no competition, on the other hand would be spending approximately $136.
From this simple analysis, those airlines positioned at the business end of the market will be less exposed to the carbon tax than those focused on the price sensitive-end of the market. In other words, Qantas has less to fear than Virgin Blue, which is turn is better positioned than Jetstar and Tiger Airways, whose business models are highly sensitive to fuel price fluctuations and operate on thinner margins.
Australian domestic fares indexes* (Jul-2003 = 100): Oct-1992 to Jun-2011
Political compromises litter the new policy. For example, trucking is excluded from the tax simply because the powerful Transport Workers Union threatened industrial action (despite also being heavily engaged in the aviation industry).
Then there is the European ETS to come. Uncoordinated taxes a threat to tourism
This is only the first impost that the airlines must face. Effective 2012, the European Union will also be imposing a charge on all operations passing through EU airspace. The quantum of these charges under the Emissions Trading System will be governed by the distance flown from the European point of departure - so that Qantas for example will be particularly hard hit, as its European-originating flights are mostly in the range of 10-12 hour flights.
There is a real risk that these uncoordinated taxes and charges will become a global pandemic. That can hardly be a positive for an industry which supports the largest international business, tourism.