The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has welcomed the European Commission’s evaluation of the Airport Charges Directive (ACD) which highlights the need to further strengthen the directive to protect consumers.
The evaluation aims to tackle the issue of many airports charging prices that would otherwise not be achieved in a competitive market.
The Commission’s evaluation confirms that further provisions are required to establish a common framework to regulate airport charges at EU airports.
The report concludes that the existing directive has had a positive impact on the airport charges setting process, but that there is a clear case for further strengthening it to fully achieve its objectives.“
The Airport Charges Directive benefits consumers. And the Commission have rightly concluded that there is scope for the Directive to be even more effective, if consumer interests are protected by strong economic regulation of airports with significant market power,” said Rafael Schvartzman, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Europe.
“The next step is to see an impact assessment of the ACD by the European Commission to analyse the best approach to fully achieve the objectives that current EU legislation has not been able to accomplish. A strengthened ACD and targeted economic regulation will play a major role in protecting consumers and building a more efficient air transport system, providing greater connectivity across Europe, with all the benefits that brings.”
