Airport service quality is becoming concerning

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has cautioned the nation’s airports saying that they have to beware dropping quality standards.
ACCC says that one of the key concerns is skyrocketing prices for parking at the capital city airports around the country.

“This year’s report has found the performance of Sydney Airport to be of greatest concern. The indications are that Sydney Airport has increased profits by permitting service quality to fall below that which the airlines reasonably expect,” ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel, said.

“While airlines lowered their airfares to attract business in the current global economic slowdown, the airports appear to have enjoyed the security of guaranteed prices as well as benefiting from the airlines' efforts to encourage travel.”

But the Sydney Airport has hit back, saying the ACCC’s report is “outdated” and that since the period on report the site had undergone some $500 million in upgrades.

“Extensive construction works were underway throughout the period covered by the report and may have, understandably, impacted on the customer experience,” said the airport in a statement.

However, the Sydney Airport statement did not address the watchdog’s concerns surrounding parking costs.
“The indications are that car parking prices likely reflect an element of monopoly rent. At least some car parking charges increased at all of the monitored airports during the 2008–09 financial year, or since then,” said the ACCC on parking costs.