EU Airports Must Consult Airlines On Fees

Feb 19, 2009
Martial Tardy/Brussels martial_tardy@hotmail.com



European Union transport ministers formally adopted the EU's new rules on airport charges today in Brussels, which will force some airports to consult airlines before implementing price hikes.

The rules will apply to all airports whose annual traffic exceeds 5 million passengers, as well as to the largest airport in each EU country. Each country of the 27-nation block must translate the directive into its own national legislation at the latest by March 2011. "That is far too late to influence those airports with monopolistic tendencies," said Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, secretary general of the Association of European Airlines (AEA).

"Right now, one after another, major airports are pushing up their charges," continued Schulte-Strathaus. "They do not see the need for sharing the consequences of the economic crisis with their customers, the airlines," he said.

The new rules will oblige airports to consult with airlines before hiking charges. Airports will also be required to provide transparency in their pricing calculations, and will be subject to the jurisdiction of an independent national regulator.

European airports welcomed the new European legislation. "We are pleased that the EU has avoided reinventing the wheel by making use of ICAO guidelines in shaping this new directive," said Olivier Jankovec, director general of Airports Council International, Europe.

ACI Europe is also satisfied that the rules won't apply to smaller airports, unlike the original intent by the European Commission, which drafted the legislation.

ACI Europe claims that smaller regional airports in Europe are typically under the dominance of the airlines that serve them.

Photo: Fraport AG