Controlling Europe’s airport fees
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Controlling Europe’s airport fees
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SCOTT JAGOW: There’s another air travel spat going on in Europe. This one is between airlines and airports over takeoff and landing fees. The E.U. wants to pass a law about this. Stephen Beard reports from London.
STEPHEN BEARD: The planned law would require European airport operators to explain and justify any increase in their fees. In other words, what they charge airlines for landing and takeoff, for parking and checking in passengers.
The measure won’t cap those charges, but the E.U. believes the new, more transparent system would help moderate increases.
This is a response to complaints from the airlines, says Kieran Daly of Air Transport Intelligence:
KIERAN DALY: There have been some pretty hefty increases that some airports have been routinely applying, I mean quite often double-digit percentage increases each year. And the airlines are fed up with it.
Europe has 15 of the world’s most expensive airports, most of them state-owned monopolies.
European carriers complain they and their passengers are paying for airport development when taxpayers should foot the bill.
In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
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