PERTH Airport is suing Qantas for $11.3 million over alleged unpaid charges for aeronautical services.

The airport claims for more than 18 months it has been offering a new agreement to Qantas, and after other airlines accepted the charges that began on July 1 this year, Qantas was billed at the same rate.

“Qantas unilaterally decided to short-pay these invoices by around 40 per cent,” the airport said in a statement yesterday.

“The amount now outstanding (July-October) totals approximately $11.3 million, which constitutes a material amount of revenue and is not sustainable.”

Legal action has been launched in the West Australian Supreme Court.

But Qantas domestic chief executive Andrew David said Perth Airport was one of the most expensive domestic airports the airline flew to.

“Without agreement or reasonable justification, Perth Airport has been sending us invoices for higher fees and charges, when these were already too high to begin with,” he said.

“While negotiations have been taking place, we have continued to pay Perth Airport, just not at the unjustified rates they have proposed.

“This mindset of monopoly airports charging customers whatever they can get away with is why the Productivity Commission is reviewing airports and why a change in regulation is needed.”