New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport (AIA), the country’s biggest, said on Thursday it would raise airline charges over the next five years, in a move opposed by major users Air New Zealand and Qantas Airways.
The airlines said it would likely lead to higher ticket prices making travel unaffordable, but the airport operator countered the carriers were reporting strong profits. Air New Zealand had on Thursday upgraded its full-year earnings guidance for the fiscal year ending June 30 for the second time on the back of strong demand and lower jet fuel prices. The airline, however, warned fares were likely to moderate in the following fiscal year.
