Melbourne Airport Checks Out OK, But Fails Quarantine Laws

November 14, 2003

Airport Checks Out OK, But Fails Quarantine Laws
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia


MELBOURNE airport has failed to meet tough new quarantine laws because of
a lack of baggage handlers, according to a competition watchdog's report.

And the airport's domestic terminal was rated "poor to satisfactory" by
thousands of passengers surveyed for the Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission report.
The report shows most major Australian airports are "satisfactory to
good", but few are world class.

The ACCC found Melbourne was failing to meet quarantine requirements in
the past 12 months because of a shortage of baggage handlers. The airport
has said it will begin beefing up baggage-handling next month.

Travellers used to being caught in lengthy queues will be surprised to
learn that check-in waiting times averaged 9.9 minutes at the
international terminal and 6.3 minutes for domestic flights.









The airport was a strong performer for its size in other areas, reporting
flight delays of six minutes across all flights and just two minutes at
peak times.

Passengers had little trouble flagging a taxi at the airport, waiting an
average of 2.5 minutes on Monday mornings and Friday evenings.

"Passenger survey ratings for Melbourne airport were broadly good," the
report said.

Sydney rated 3.5 on a scale of one to five in its facilities and delays.
During the 2000 Olympics, Sydney airport ranked 2nd best in the world but
it has slipped to the edge of the top 10.

Brisbane airport was rated dux of the class with an overall report of
"good to excellent".



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