Airport shuttle defends tournament price hike

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An Auckland shuttle bus company is under fire for raising its prices during the Rugby World Cup.

Shuttle Bus, which provides a prebooked door-to-door service to and from Auckland Airport, will increase its prices by $20 a vanload between September 1 and October 31.

The company charges for each transfer then divides the cost among the number of customers on each trip.

Director Raja Ganeshan said the fare increase was to capitalise on the extra patronage during the World Cup.

"We're going to have limited resources, so we're just trying to make a little bit of premium like everyone else in the business."

He said the Government was spending millions on the World Cup despite its deficit. "So why can't I make a little bit of extra cash?"

The price hike has upset customer Keith Willson, who called it an "absolute disgrace" and said he would never use the service again.

"Why can't companies enjoy and reap the increase in business ... instead of ripping people off. What kind of a message is this going to send to our overseas visitors?"

Mr Ganeshan said Shuttle Bus had seven vans and the World Cup would greatly limit its resources, so he emailed his client base to make sure they had booked their trips in advance.

"We put it out there because we are on the honest side. Everybody else in the business is going to keep quiet."

Existing clients in the Shuttle Bus database have until August 10 to book their trips during the World Cup at the regular price. If they miss that deadline they will be charged at the higher rate.

"From my side, I think I'm being a little bit fair and honest, and if some people don't like that I can't help it," Mr Ganeshan said.

Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish was not aware of any other shuttle services which were going to raise their prices during the World Cup. He said he was very disappointed with Shuttle Bus.