Auckland Transport braced for $64m hit amid ‘huge losses’ in patronage

Auckland Transport (AT) is seeking support from the Government to help it turn around the $64 million hit it expects to take to its finances following a fall in public transport due to Covid-19, Stuff reports. AT’s budget projections had been based on Auckland remaining in alert level 1 and not going into another lockdown. But it is now looking at a year-to-date net operating deficit of $113 million. “Right now we are seeing approximately 80,000 passenger trips per day, which equates to approximately 22% in comparison to the same time in 2019,” said an AT spokeswoman.