Major airports in the EU, including Malta's, will soon have to adopt a more transparent approach to the way they levy charges on airport users, particularly airlines.

This follows a new EU directive overwhelmingly approved yesterday by the European Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg setting common principles for the levying of airport charges at EU airports.

The directive comes in view of continuous complaints by major airlines claiming massive "unjustified" charges imposed by many airports around the EU, contributing towards dearer air tickets for passengers. Before the introduction of low-cost airlines in Malta, Malta International Airport and Ryanair were also involved in a dispute about charges imposed at the island's only airport.

According to the new directive, all airports will be bound by common rules on provision of mutual information, transparency and the way airport charges may be collected.

The directive also plans to introduce a national independent regulatory body to ensure that the directive is applied in full.

Airport managing companies are allowed to pre-finance new infrastructure projects by increasing airport charges accordingly. However, they are obliged to provide airport users with information on the components of all the charges they levy.

When it comes into effect in about three years time, about 67 major airports in the EU will be affected. Regional and small airports will not have to abide by this directive as they are not considered to have a dominant market position.