Extra Fee From Airport Stations Sees Government Claim $800m
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Extra fees for passengers tapping off at airport stations have seen the state government collect close to $800 million over the last decade.
Accounts filed by the private operator of the Domestic and International Stations show it gave the government almost $110 million from station access fees in the 12 months to June, taking the total amount from the charges to $796 million since 2015.
The station access fee is levied on top of the $17.92 fare for adults, meaning a one-way train trip of up to 10 kilometres to the airport during peak periods can see them charged $22.25.
Greens transport spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann told the Sydney Morning Herald it was ridiculous that airport workers were paying thousands of dollars a year to catch the train to work.
“No other state charges its airport workers an extra toll to use public transport. It’s unfair, outdated and adding to the cost-of-living crisis,” she said.
“Scrapping these fees is one of the easiest things for the government to do.”
Fee previously tackled during election
Any change to the station usage fee at the airport stations needs to be negotiated at a price with Airport Link Company, which was awarded the contract by the Liberal government more than 30 years ago. The hold the right to operate the stations, alongside Mascot and Green Square, until May 2030.
The government is entitled to 85 per cent of the sales revenue from Airport Link since 2014, with most of that money coming from station access fees.
Governments have explored changes to the fees before. During the 2019 election, NSW Labor promised to reduce the fee to $5, and scrap the fee entirely for workers, but failed to take the pledge to the 2023 state election.
Sydney Airport has also called for fee reforms, with a spokesperson saying that they believe more airport employees would be able to use the train if the fees were changed.
“We’re working with the NSW government on options to ensure the 35,000 people who work at Sydney Airport aren’t discouraged from using public transport,” he said.
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