ACCC could call for cap on Melbourne airport parking fees

THE consumer cop will consider calling for a cap on Melbourne Airport parking fees amid concerns travellers are being ripped off. Find out how much money they’re raking in and how to park cheaper.

The ACCC could push for capped parking fees at Melbourne airport. Picture: Mark Stewart

THE consumer cop will consider calling for a cap on parking fees at the nation’s major airports amid concerns customers are being ripped off.

Parking profits are expected to be considered by an upcoming Productivity Commission inquiry into airport regulation and market power.

An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report reveals airports, including Melbourne’s, continue to reap “significant” operating profit margins from parking.

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Asked whether fees should be capped, ACCC chairman Rod Sims told the Herald Sun: “That is not what we have argued in the past, but we will give it further thought.

“Capping the prices is certainly an option, but in the past we’ve looked at the fact that, particularly in Melbourne, there are an enormous number of competing offsite car parks.”

Melbourne has more independent offsite car park operators than other airports.

The ACCC’s latest report assessing the main airports in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth found that car parking operating profit margins ranged from 52.4 to 71.9 per cent of revenues in 2016-17.

Melbourne, which has the most parking spaces, topped parking revenue, at $145.1 million, and seized 59.7c profit for every dollar of revenue.

Melbourne airport has the most parking spaces. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Under current regulations, the ACCC has no power to intervene in setting parking and aeronautic prices. The report notes the inquiry “is likely to carefully consider concerns about consistently high operating profit margins for airport car parking operations”.

Mr Sims said it was important to encourage offsite car park operator competition.

“We need to think about whether there needs to be some kind of access regime for those offsite companies, to make sure they are not in any way inhibited in their access to the airport to pick up and put down people who have used the offsite parking,” he said.

Drivers who book airport parking online or use independent operators could save as much as 55 per cent.

“Motorists concerned about the price … should plan ahead, as there are savings available,” Mr Sims said.

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