FRANCE. A White Paper on the creation of new French airport companies released last month by national airport body UCCEGA (Union des Chambres de Commerce et Établissements Gestionnaires d’Aéroport) is set to become law in June.
The proposal will permit airports handling at over1 million passengers (excluding Aéroports de Paris) to convert from local authority ownership to private companies owned one third each by the French state, regional or town governments and the airport’s historical operator – the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI).
UCCEGA spokesman Jacques Sabourin told The Moodie Report the reforms had already received the support of the Transport Minister in his recently published transport policy report. “Airports will be more reactive in management to the needs of airlines. Currently under public ownership we must follow the public code which is heavy”, he said.
CCIs will be able to create other aviation or commercial companies, possibly taking them into new areas of airport and retail business, currently prohibited in French law. Some airports are expected to expand overseas and have investment relations with other airports in France or internationally.
