| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2014) 278 final (19.05.14) |
| Publication Date | 19/05/2014 |
| Content Type | Policy-making, Report |
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Airport charges are paid by airport users (airlines) for the use of airport facilities. They are related to landing, take-off, lighting and parking of aircraft, and processing of passengers and freight and fund in part or entirely the provision of runways and associated areas and passenger and cargo terminal areas. Although airport charges are levied on airlines, the cost is ultimately borne by the passenger or freight customer since these charges form part of the final price which they pay. The share of airport charges in airlines' total costs varies based on the type of carrier and the airports served. They make up around half of the average airport's revenues and given the current difficult cost climate for airlines, they are under closer scrutiny than ever. Airport charges are also linked to the level of service offered to passengers. For low cost and short haul operations in particular, the level of airport charges might be one of the determinants in airlines' decisions on which routes to fly. The availability of competitively-priced and quality airport infrastructure for all types of airline is clearly of key importance to a successful aviation sector in the EU. The Airport Charges Directive, which the Member States were required to transpose to national law by 15 March 2011, is a specific EU legal framework for airport charges at all airports in the European Economic Area and Switzerland with more than 5 million passenger movements per year and at least the largest airport in each Member State. Around 70 EU airports fall within the scope of the Directive; representing just under 80% of EU passenger traffic. This group represents a wide variety of airports, ranging from medium-sized airports making a key economic and social contribution to their respective regions, to the largest hub airports in the EU linking destinations worldwide. The Directive sets common principles for the levying of airport charges and in this connection it aims to: provide for greater transparency on how airport charges are calculated; ensure that airports do not discriminate among airlines in the application of airport charges (unless justified by well-defined public policy considerations); establish regular consultation between airports and airlines; and establish in each Member State an independent supervisory authority (ISA) tasked with settling disputes between airports and airlines on the level of airport charges and overseeing the correct application of the measures taken by Member States to comply with the Directive. In this report, the Commission provides an overview of the application of the Directive in the Member States and indicates specific findings with regard to possible problems in its implementation with a possible follow up for future analysis. The report draws upon a recent study carried out for the Commission for this purpose. This study has analysed whether there has been any impact on airport charging practices which could be attributed to the Directive and also includes a comprehensive consultation of stakeholders to canvas views on the implementation of the Directive, the results achieved and areas requiring further attention. Such stakeholders include the independent supervisory authorities established by the Directive, other competent authorities in the Member States, individual airport managing bodies and airlines as well as their representative associations. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2014:278:FIN |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Mobility and Transport |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
