TRAVELLERS and airlines can look
forward to a 35% cut in Acsa
tariffs for 2017, according to
Acsa’s latest financial report released
last week.
Although final numbers for the tariff
cuts will only be released once the
Economic Regulator’s permission
is released later this year, Chris
Zweigenthal, AASA ceo, told TNW a
decrease was definitely expected.
“Any decrease will be reflected in
a decrease in the Passenger Service
Charge which will reduce the total cost
paid for an airline ticket departing
from an Acsa airport. I think the
impact on travel to, from and within SA
will be marginal but it is good news for
the traveller,” says Chris.
The first draft permission, which was
announced in May last year made
provision for a reduction in airport
charges of 42% for 2015/2016.
After extensive industry negotiations,
it was agreed that the permission
decision be reviewed and announced
at the end of June 2015. However,
the final permission has not been
published to date. Due to delays in the
permission process, Acsa tariffs have
remained the same.
According to Chris, the final
determination is expected by the
end of 2016 if not sooner.
“The continued uncertainty in
regulatory permission outcomes
affects our ability to set accurate
medium-term plans for the
improvement of our airport
operations,” says chairman of Acsa,
Skhumbuzo Macozoma.
With the exception of certain
planning activities, the company
has postponed all new capacity
investments, including the
re-alignment of the runway and
terminal improvements at Cape Town
International Airport and the addition
of aprons at OR Tambo. According
to Chris, however, a reduction in
tariffs won’t necessarily mean that
all expansion plans will be halted
as capital expenditure is taken into
account when tariff amendments
are made.
Meanwhile, Acsa has said
that, although it reported
a 20% increase in profits
to R2bn, it is expecting a
decline in profits in 2017 as
a result of the dip in airport
tariffs. CEO, Bongani Maseko,
said he feared that a drastic
reduction in tariffs could
lead Acsa to breach loan
covenants on R11bn debt.
