Saturday 24 May 2014

Airport charges

Last week the European Commission released a report on Member States' application of EU rules on airport charges (e.g. aircraft landing charges, charges for processing passengers, freight) that is supposed to ensure fair pricing by European airports. Any charges that airlines have to pay for the use of airports are ultimately paid by the passengers within the ticket price. It is estimated that up to 10% of airlines' operating costs cover airport charges. The report shows that large EU airports are now more transparent as to the prices they charge, however, there are still discrepancies across the EU, since airports' policies vary e.g. with respect to the interest in the reduction of the environmental impact of aviation. (Commission reports increased transparency in setting of airport charges, but uneven implementation of rules by the Member States) The Commission intends to promote more uniform application of the Directive 2009/12 by establishing the Thessaloniki Forum of Airport Charges Regulators that will meet for the first time on June 13 in Thessaloniki, Greece.