UNIFORM CHARGES FOR BIGGEST EU AIRPORTS

Common principles for levying charges at Community airports are set out in a second-reading report, adopted unanimously by the Transport Committee last month, on a proposed directive to prevent individual airports abusing a dominant position on the market.

MEPs want the rules to apply to airports with an annual throughput of over 5 million passengers per year. MEPs say these are necessary to establish a level playing field for economic operators and ultimately also to safeguard consumer interests. MEPs say (and the Council agrees) that applying the rules to smaller airports would have imposed administrative and bureaucratic burdens, to no great effect. And yet, the Directive will apply to the largest airport in each MemberState, irrespective of passenger numbers. Transport Ministers also accept that incentives should be permitted for new routes to disadvantaged and outermost regions. Amongst the capitals of EU, and Bucharest (Henri Coanda) is also included, there are also some more great airports, and Timisoara is one of them too.