Airport departure tax to be axed at AKL

[MotherBear]

Airport departure tax to be axed
5:00AM Thursday May 29, 2008
By Alanah May Eriksen

Auckland Airport is scrapping the international departure fee paid by passengers leaving New Zealand but the move is likely to see ticket prices rise.

The $25 fee is being replaced with a passenger services charge to be levied on airlines, which could pass the cost directly on to passengers in the form of higher fares. From July the new charge will be $13 per arrival and $13 per departure. It will increase by 50c per year for two years making the total fee $28 by 2010.

Auckland Airport chief executive Don Huse said the new fee would speed things up.

"Airport and airline customers have been telling us for some time that the old departure fee process was a genuine hassle.

"We are now looking forward to taking the old collection process link out of the chain from July and simplifying travel for everyone.

More here .

[selchie]

Not that it will save any money, but what a relief to not have to find the departure fee station before being able to fly out. It's a-flippin'-bout time.

[Ginabridget]

Originally Posted by selchie

Not that it will save any money, but what a relief to not have to find the departure fee station before being able to fly out. It's a-flippin'-bout time.

My sentiments exactly, everytime I left NZ I forgot about the departure tax and ended up having to dip into my duty free spending money.