South African Government urges Competition Commission to investigate airport charges

South African Chief Director of Industrial Policy and Industry Development in the Department of Trade and Industry, Nimrod Zalk has urged the Competition Commission to investigate airport passenger charges at South African airports (Business Day, 14-Sep-09). According to Mr Zalk, passengers are currently being charged up to seven separate fees, including charges from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the South African Revenue Service. The Airline Association of SA responded stating that while the charges are transparent, the bigger concern is the overall cost. ACSA currently plans to increase its passenger service charge by 133%.

South African Government: "There is a concern that all these additional costs could constrain the growth of tourism in South Africa. It also appears that airport charges and other government levies make up only a small portion of the charges with the larger portion coming from the airlines in the form of fuel and other levies. Therefore there is a worry that airlines are misleading the public by claiming the additional charges are purely government charges," Nimrod Zalk, Chief Director of Industrial Policy and Industry Development. Source: Business Day, 14-Sep-09.