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EUROPE. ACI Europe has hit back at comments from the CEOs of Europe’s five major airlines about airport charges and fees, which the carriers said were excessive.
Earlier today, at a joint press conference in Brussels, the CEOs of AirFrance-KLM, easyJet, IAG, Lufthansa Group and Ryanair said that airport charges in Europe were among the highest worldwide, and called for more effective regulation of monopoly airports. They also claimed that security costs at airports are not properly controlled.
But ACI Europe, the European airport trade association, hit back this afternoon. It noted that airport charges are already regulated at EU level since 2007 and are regularly monitored by the European Commission.
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“Major airlines already have a free lunch, now they also want a free dinner. Let’s get real here, airline interest does not necessarily equal consumer interest.“ |
Olivier Jankovec Director General ACI Europe |
ACI Europe added that airlines are not paying the full cost of the airport infrastructure they use. It said: “Each year, the revenues collected from airport charges levied on both airlines and passengers fall over €3 billion short of covering airports’ operating expenses.
“This also means that not one cent of airport capital expenditure is paid for by airlines [with more of the burden falling on non-aeronautical revenues -Ed]. This situation reflects the extensive competitive pressures on airports and the fact that airport competition is now a reality across Europe.”
The airlines contended that reductions in airport charges at major airports through tighter regulation would save consumers €1.5 billion in lower fares. ACI Europe said: “This extraordinary claim hinges on one key assumption – that any such reduction in airport charges would be passed on 100% by airlines to passengers. Yet independent research has shown that at major airports, airlines are in fact able to charge passengers a significant non-cost related premium.
“This implies that any mandated reduction in airport charges is highly unlikely to be passed on to passengers. Hence, the underlying rationale of airline lobbying to artificially lower airport charges is more about benefit to airline shareholders than the travelling public.”
Today’s announcement by the airlines was more “about protecting the position of incumbent airlines at major airports and limiting airline competition,” claimed ACI Europe.
ACI Europe Director General Olivier Jankovec said: “Major airlines already have a free lunch, now they also want a free dinner. Let’s get real here, airline interest does not necessarily equal consumer interest. Assuming airlines would pass mandated reductions in airport charges on to consumers is ludicrous to say the least. More than that, it flies in the face of reality – just consider the fact that most airlines do not even effectively refund airport charges and other ticket taxes to passengers who do not take their flight.”
He added: “We find it disappointing that the five biggest European airlines rely on such an archaic suggestion as one of their main contributions to the forthcoming EU Aviation strategy.”
