BARNZ is very pleased that new legislation, making it easier to impose stronger regulation on our three main airports, has been passed by Parliament.

The Commerce Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament on 24 October and signed into law by the Governor General on 25 October.

The new legislation will make it less likely that airports will overcharge airlines and passengers in future. This is because it makes it clear that the regulator, the Commerce Commission, can review whether current airport regulation is delivering good outcomes for passengers and also gives the Commission power to recommend to Ministers that stronger regulation should be imposed on airports.

These changes give the Commission real strength to properly review airport pricing decisions and they create a credible threat of further regulation, which makes it more likely airport prices will be reasonable in future.

Details about the new legislation can be found here: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/bills-proposed-laws/document/BILL_77799/commerce-amendment-bill