Europe discusses airline charges

Leading figures in the European aviation authority are meeting in Brussels today to discuss whether airlines should pay extra for using EU airports at peak times.

Jaques Barrot, head of the EU's transport commission, said he was keen to consult with representatives from airlines and airport operators, before reaching any decisions on how best to increase Europe's competitiveness in the industry.

Yesterday the two-day consultation centred on ground-handling issues and the possibility of opening up the market further. Fuelling and baggage handling regulations were both covered.

Today discussions turn to the matter of airport charges, an area that is not currently covered under EU legislation.

Participating organisations will be given the opportunity to voice any concerns about such charges, with airlines and airports likely to come into conflict.

Airport operators will say that airlines are not meeting the full cost of improving the infrastructure they use, but airlines believe charges should not depend on departure times and the focus should be on improving the efficiency of the infrastructure itself.

Airlines will also be hoping to avoid raising their ticket prices amid the current high demand for cheap flights.

And airlines have already expressed concerns over the current level of airport charges, with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) calling on the commission to intervene in what had become a "horror story".

However, Mr Barrot told the Financial Times that he thought "modulating charges could be very helpful".

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