Brussels' second attempt to push through legislation to harmonise airport charges in Europe has attracted the usual hail of criticism from both sides of the industry.
Airport charges vary widely across the European Union. In its draft proposal, the Commission highlights a 'cost variation for these facilities and services of between 1 and 18 for international traffic and 1 and 9 for domestic traffic.' Landing charges for an A320 seating 100 passengers on an intra-EU route vary from 800-2,500 ecus (US$900-2,800).
Le Thi Mai, general manager for infrastructure and environment at the Association of European Airlines, welcomes the initiative to harmonise charges, which is based on three principles: cost-relatedness, transparency and non-discrimination. But she criticises the draft for not including 'a fourth principle of cost-effectiveness' to allow users to compare how different airports calculate cost levels and charges, and subsequently to appeal if they think calculations are flawed.
Sheena Gibson, head of the European policy unit at Airports Council International, objects to regulation. 'Our view is that we need no legislation on this issue.' She says her members are becoming more commercially orientated and are capable of self-regulation.
The proposal will exempt smaller airports with fewer than 250,000 passenger movements or 25,000 tonnes of freight a year. Le Thi says it could take 18 months before the directive is put before the 15 EU transport ministers. Gibson says most of her members hope the attempt at legislation will 'die a death' and founder at the political level like the first bid did in the early 1990s.
Mark Odell
Source: Airline Business
