1 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Cura. 2 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 2: I'm Susie Nordquist and for Chelsea Daniels and this is 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: the Front Page, a daily podcast presented by their New 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 2: Zealand Herald. Last week a brand new outlet mall opened 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 2: in Auckland, right next to the international airport. Monowell Bay 6 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 2: is a new two hundred million dollar mall on the 7 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: airport precinct, boasting one hundred stores and eateries, including some 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 2: never seen before in New Zealand. The opening weekend, though, 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: was marred by large traffic delays around the airport, which 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 2: caused some flights to be delayed as crews were caught 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 2: up in their congestion. So why has the airport decided 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: to build a mall right next door? And how does 13 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 2: this factor into the rebuild of our biggest international terminal. 14 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: Today on the front Page, we are joined by New 15 00:00:54,960 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 2: Zealand Herald Deputy Business Editor Grant Bradley to tell us more. Grant, 16 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 2: can you tell us a bit about Manawa Bay and 17 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: how it came about. 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 3: Look, it's the latest commercial enterprise by Auckland Airport. It's 19 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 3: a large shopping center, outlet retail center quite near the 20 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 3: airport itself. It's been under construction for several years. There's 21 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 3: a one hundred and eighteen shops and food outlets here, so 22 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 3: this is a shopping center that can be reached from 23 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 3: all parts of Auckland. And also it will be of 24 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 3: interest to travelers who maybe have a bit of spare 25 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 3: time before a flight. 26 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 1: Okay, quite popular as well. 27 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 2: Thousands of people flock to the mall to check it 28 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: out at the weekend. Auckland Airport must be pretty happy 29 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: with this response, but not everyone is happy about the 30 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 2: traffic chaos this caused. Could more have been done to 31 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 2: prepare for this. 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 3: It's very hard to estimate the public enthusiasm for these 33 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 3: new malls. People love shopping and even in this tied economy, 34 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 3: it's a bit of a reflection that if you've got 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 3: the right proposition, people will be tempted. And that's what 36 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: we saw at the weekend. Yes, Auckland Airport was surprised 37 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 3: at the response. I've kind of done what they can 38 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 3: to smooth out the opening process. I guess they're opening 39 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 3: hours from ten am to seven, so they're not at 40 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 3: that peak time morning rush during the week and also 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 3: they're making the point that this place is going away. 42 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 3: It's there for a long time, so you don't have 43 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 3: to get there on the first day. But look, more 44 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 3: openings are notoriously popular, I guess in Auckland, and of 45 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 3: course Auckland doesn't have a great transport infrastructure. 46 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 4: Bargain hunters are continuing to flock in their thousands to 47 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 4: Auckland's newest outlet, mare Manawa Bay, which is less than 48 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 4: three kilometers from the city's airport. A wave of shop 49 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 4: is heading there for its opening. Caused major congestion on 50 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 4: the main route to the airport. 51 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: Yesterday, so coming in obviously there was a bit of 52 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: a wait to get in from off Theield motorway, so immediately. 53 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 5: The traffic starts and then car parking was ready. 54 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 2: For You've spoken to airlines and the board of airline representatives. 55 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: What are they saying about this? 56 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 3: Look, they're disappointed, they're frustrated and it has really reignited 57 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 3: this friction between airlines and the airport. The airlines are 58 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 3: worried that Auckland Airport is concentrating too much on the 59 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 3: commercial side of their business, the retail the investment property 60 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 3: side of it, which makes up well over half of 61 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 3: its revenue, whereas the airlines what they want is an 62 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 3: airport that functions smoothly for their planes and their passengers. 63 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 2: There've been headlines about delayed flights and some airline staff 64 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: resorted to using bus lanes in an effort to get 65 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: to work at the weekend. 66 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 3: This sounds costly, yeah, well it will be so. Airlines 67 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 3: found that they had to rebook passengers who missed the 68 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 3: flights on later flights. Normally they charge for that, they've 69 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 3: apparently done it free of charge. And of course, if 70 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 3: you are ticketed for driving in a bus lane, while 71 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 3: you might find the consequences further down the track. So look, 72 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 3: it's costly, but it's an enormous frustration for workers, and 73 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 3: also you think about passengers. Traveling can be stressful for 74 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 3: people who don't do it a lot. They get nervous 75 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 3: about missing flights, and this is just one more thing 76 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: that lots of people didn't need. 77 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 2: This all comes as part of the airport's major rebuild efforts. 78 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,680 Speaker 6: The domestic terminal is out of shine and out of 79 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 6: space for more planes. 80 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 3: A new one is in. 81 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 6: The making, joining our other big airports. By joining the 82 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 6: domestic jets and international terminals together, putting an end to 83 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,359 Speaker 6: the ten minute walk between them. And one point seven 84 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 6: billion dollars for work like airfield upgrades to join the terminals, 85 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 6: another two point I went two billion for the terminal itself. 86 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 2: Can you remind us of what exactly the airport is 87 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: doing and why it's taking so long. 88 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, the airport's in the midst of a six 89 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 3: point six billion dollar rebuild and new infrastructure. The start 90 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 3: of the show will be a new domestic terminal which 91 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 3: is going to be built on to the international terminal. 92 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 3: In total, it's about three point nine billion dollars worth. 93 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 3: And the rebuilding of that domestic terminal has been interminable. 94 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 3: If you like, it's a near sixty year old building 95 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: the existing one. 96 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: The new one. 97 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 3: Will provide a lot more options for travelers and as 98 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 3: I say, being part of the international terminal make that 99 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:46,200 Speaker 3: journey a bit smoother for people who are doing both. 100 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 3: But there's been a long process of negotiation with the airlines. 101 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 3: There's been a couple of redesigns, and the pandemic of 102 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 3: course got in the way and talking to the airport's 103 00:05:59,080 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 3: credit during that time and they did use it very 104 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 3: very very quiet period to get on with roading infrastructure 105 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 3: and they got that going pretty well, but as we 106 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 3: saw at the weekend, it still is a little bit brittle. 107 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: What's the airport trying to do here? 108 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: Is it trying to create a destination for travelers like 109 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: Singapore's Changy Airport just beyond the terminal And does it 110 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 2: seem like the right move in your view? 111 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 7: Oh? 112 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 3: Look, airport's are pretty good at getting every last dollar 113 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:30,039 Speaker 3: out of a captive audience. You've got to go to 114 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 3: the airport to fly, and so they're very interested in 115 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 3: tempting you into shops that they lease. They want to 116 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 3: rent out commercial properties in that Precinct's got about one 117 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,360 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty hectares here, so they're huge landowners. And 118 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 3: you know, it's been said that Oaklands Airport is a 119 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,239 Speaker 3: large shopping mall that just happens to have a runway there. 120 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 3: Perhaps a little unfair, but the emphasis on the commercial 121 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 3: side of the business does give a lot more credence 122 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 3: to the airlines. View is that perhaps the airport company 123 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 3: should be doing more for passengers and planes. 124 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: What could that look like? 125 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 3: The airlines, I suppose, would prefer to see the airport 126 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 3: concentrate entirely on building gates, providing space for agencies to operate, 127 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 3: although perhaps that's not the greatest option for passengers. Lots 128 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 3: of people do like shopping out the airport, so I 129 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 3: don't think we're going to see a lot of change 130 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 3: the operating model unless is a big shake up and 131 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 3: how the airport is regulated. 132 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 2: Moving on to terminal fees. Now the airport is charging 133 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 2: airlines more terminal fees. Can you explain just what those 134 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: are and why they're causing so much tension? 135 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 3: Good question. The friction between the airport and airlines as 136 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 3: old as the hill's really in and it comes to 137 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 3: a head around price fixing every five years. In the 138 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 3: current period, Auckland Airport is looking to hike its charges 139 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 3: quite substantially. You know, for example, domestic jet chargers will 140 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 3: rise by three dollars fifty to ten dollars twenty at 141 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 3: the end of the five year period. International charges go 142 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 3: up to thirty seven dollars there around twenty three dollars 143 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 3: at the moment, so they're big hikes and of course 144 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 3: this attracts the interests of the Commerce Commission, which looks 145 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 3: at whether it's fear that the airport is using its 146 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 3: capital spend to justify putting up prices like this for airlines. 147 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: The Communist Commission has said these charges are too high. 148 00:08:43,080 --> 00:08:46,640 Speaker 2: Will Auckland Airport bow to pressure from them? And do 149 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: you have any insights on what other airports are charging 150 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: in these fees? 151 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 3: Yeah? Look correct. The Commerce Commission is worried about overcharging 152 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:57,840 Speaker 3: over this five year period buy up to TUR hundred 153 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 3: and twenty six million. As a result of a draft 154 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 3: report coming out in midyear. It's back to the drawing 155 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: board to an extent, and Auckland Airport has said that yeah, 156 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 3: it's certainly going to review what it's doing. It has 157 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 3: put down prices in the past over these price setting 158 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: periods and it will likely do the same, but by 159 00:09:17,960 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 3: how much is unknown. 160 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: What does that mean for passengers? 161 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 3: The extra chargers at Auckland Airport puts it on. Airlines 162 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 3: may be a bit lower, but at the end of 163 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 3: the day, no matter who's charging it, passengers pay. And 164 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 3: so to a degree, there's a lot of heat and 165 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 3: noise about this, and the airlines are pushing back hard, 166 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 3: the airport stating quite clearly its case to improve infrastructure 167 00:09:44,360 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 3: out there, but yeah, we pay, flyers pay. 168 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 5: In the final analysis, there's no such thing as a 169 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 5: free ride and airline landing fees will have to increase 170 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 5: to pay for the upgrade. By how much, Well, that's 171 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 5: down to Commerce commission. The airlines say they'll be forced 172 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 5: to pass on those costs, but fear they'll be substantial 173 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 5: and as a result some passengers will ultimately be priced out. 174 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 7: In particular, will affect the lower priced airfares. Those are 175 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 7: the fairs that may no longer be available, and certainly 176 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 7: our economic analysis suggests that a lot fewer people will travel. 177 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: Jetstar has come out and said the fee increase will 178 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 2: make it difficult for its domestic operations to be commercially 179 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 2: viable here and Quantus has said that the increased fees 180 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 2: could lead to an annual passenger drop of one point 181 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 2: five million. How concerning are those statements and what could 182 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 2: the repercussions be. 183 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, it's interesting that the Australian airlines have said that, 184 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,440 Speaker 3: and of course in New Zealand takes that view as well. 185 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 3: These charges affect the low cost carriers in particular, or 186 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 3: the low fear into the market. It's a discretionary purchase 187 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 3: for people who travel on those low affairs, and every 188 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: doll accounts whether it's going to deter people from in 189 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 3: those volumes from flying through the airport is probably up 190 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 3: for debate, but it will certainly put some people around 191 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 3: the margins off traveling and that's very bad news for 192 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 3: airlines and ultimately for the airport. 193 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 2: A Jetstars just announced new direct trans Tasman flights from 194 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 2: Hamilton and Dunedin. Could we see more examples of them 195 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 2: sort of setting up in the smaller regions and moving 196 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 2: away from Auckland. 197 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, look, that's tremendously exciting. So from Hamilton, Jets is 198 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 3: going to fly into the Gold Coast in Sydney from 199 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 3: the middle of next year, and there are also flights 200 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 3: across the TASM from Dunedin from next year. Jets and 201 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 3: Quantus are keen on serving smaller ports in New Zealand 202 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 3: and also flying to smaller places in Australia. So that's 203 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 3: going to create options for travel, and it comes at 204 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:05,440 Speaker 3: a time when Quantus is refleeting. They're getting brand new 205 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 3: aircraft that are smaller aroun about one hundred and twenty 206 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 3: seat mark ideal for serving smaller centers. So yeah, perhaps 207 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 3: in the future you could look at a Toronga Napier 208 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 3: getting international flights road ruas at international flights before. So yeah, 209 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 3: great news for travelers is costs setting up international operations 210 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 3: for local communities and so they all have to be 211 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:33,400 Speaker 3: taken in consideration. But that's a very bright prospect. 212 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 2: Now the statements from Jetstar and Quantus, they sound quite serious. 213 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:39,880 Speaker 2: Is that a bit of a threat in your opinion? 214 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, Look, as I say, there's a lot of noise 215 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 3: around this issue. We've heard some quite extravagant claims about 216 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 3: just what Auckland Airport is doing out there. I think 217 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 3: one Quantus executive talked about them building something akin to 218 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:57,320 Speaker 3: the taj Mahal. So you know, whether jets are would 219 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 3: follow through on this and cut flights is another matter. 220 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 2: Grant, do you think all these changes at Auckland Airport 221 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 2: and across its site are going to work out in 222 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,120 Speaker 2: its favor in the end or could some of this 223 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 2: bad bloods with the airlines worsened by traffic jams turn 224 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 2: into something more substantial. If so, what could that look like? 225 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 3: Feelings are running high the airline see this latest problem 226 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: as something that they didn't need, and especially coming into 227 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: the busy summer period, so they'll be hoping that choppers 228 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 3: have maybe had their fill of rushing out to Martawa Bay. 229 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 3: I guess what the Commerce Commission delivers in their final 230 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 3: ruling may lower the temperature. But I think certainly on 231 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,560 Speaker 3: the commercial side, the airlines in Auckland Airport, they're fated 232 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 3: to scrap it out. It's usually in private, sometimes in public, 233 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:54,280 Speaker 3: but Auckland Airport, with a monopoly position certainly in this 234 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:59,440 Speaker 3: region and really across the country for international arrivals, is 235 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 3: in an immensely powerful position, and likewise airlines so they 236 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 3: have to serve this part of the country, and so 237 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 3: in a way as status quo, with a fair bit 238 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 3: of rhetoric around the. 239 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 2: Edges grant, if anyone listening to this podcast is about 240 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,840 Speaker 2: to head out on a plane, what's your advice to them? 241 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 3: As always allowed, plenty of time, travels a bit bumpy 242 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: at post pandemic, and so this is one more speed 243 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 3: bump in the way. It's not a biggie and hopefully 244 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: it'll resolve itself. So maybe allow a little more time. 245 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 3: And the other thing is just remember the frontline staff 246 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 3: involved in the aviation system. It's not their fault. They 247 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,760 Speaker 3: always get in the neck from grumpy travelers and it's 248 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 3: really not fair. They have to cope with these circumstances. 249 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:50,000 Speaker 3: So you know, in the words of a few years ago, 250 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 3: be Kine, thanks for joining us, grant pleasure. 251 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: That's it for this EPISO of the Front Page. You 252 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 253 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 2: at zherld dot co dot enzt. The Front Page is 254 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sills. Patty Fox is a sound engineer. 255 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 2: I'm Susie Norquist. Subscribe to the Front Page on iHeartRadio 256 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: or wherever you get your podcasts, and tune in tomorrow 257 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 2: for another look behind the headlines.