Commission wants regulators for airports

Malta International Airport could soon start having to deal with a regulator when deciding on certain administrative and financial questions such as what to charge airlines for landing rights.

The European Commission yesterday unveiled plans to establish "national airport regulators" in all its member states, similar to the system already adopted in Britain.

Presenting a wide ranging "airport package" designed to further develop the EU's aviation market, European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot said that "all the measures presented should bring down airports' fees and thus the cost of travelling by air for passengers."

Airlines have been accusing airports around the EU of abusing their dominant and geographical position and charging exorbitant costs for airlines using their facilities. According to IATA - the international airline body - Europe has the 15 most expensive airports in the world. In the recent past, for example, Malta International Airport was accused by Ryanair of charging hefty landing charges.

In its draft proposal, which has still to be approved by member states, the Commission wants to re-define the relationship between airport operators and airport users by requiring total transparency, user-consultation and the application of the principle of non-discrimination when calculating charges levied on users.

The proposal also includes the creation of a strong, independent national authority to arbitrate and settle disputes in order to achieve a speedy resolution.

Although entering new territory, the EU proposal is still being considered as not going too far. Airlines were insisting on the introduction of a capping mechanism for airport fees.

However, Mr Barrot said that this would be impossible to achieve because of the hundreds of different airports and circumstances they are operating in.

The Commission's airline package also includes a plan to reduce congestion at Europe's busiest airports, suggesting that airports should make better use of existing capacity and improve technology.

The Commission's proposed rules should apply to all airports with more than a million passenger movements or 25,000 tonnes of cargo a year. MIA last year had more than 2.5 million passengers.

In a separate report, the EU executive said ground handling services throughout Europe were becoming more competitive after a first phase of liberalisation.