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AMSTERDAM, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A new European airlineassociation launched on Wednesday wants the European Union toreform its regulations to bring down the cost of using airportsin the region.
Airlines for Europe, or A4E, founded by IAG, AirFrance-KLM, easyJet, Lufthansa andRyanair, said a new study showed that charges at thelargest 21 European airports have risen 80 percent since 2005,with a 90 percent increase at the 10 biggest.
That compares with a 20 percent drop in ticket prices overthe same period, according to data from international industrybody IATA.
"We urge the EU to take action lowering the cost of the EU'sairports by ensuring that monopoly airports are effectivelyregulated by reforming the Airport Charges Directive," A4E said.
Airlines for Europe brings Europe's full-service andlow-cost carriers together for the first time and was formedafter British Airways (BA) owner IAG left the main lobby groupfor full-service airlines, the Association of European Airlines.
A4E will focus on getting Brussels, which unveiled plans forthe aviation industry in December, to ease the burden onairlines from what they see as additional costs related tofragmented air traffic control, taxes and other levies.
At a conference in Dublin this week, IAG chief executiveWillie Walsh criticised airport charges. He has also said amuch-debated proposal to expand BA's main hub London Heathrow isfar too expensive.
"We need to have effective costs at airports. If you look athow airlines have transformed their cost base and pricing, fromthe consumer point of view, airports have gone in the oppositedirection," Walsh said.
Transport politicians and aviation executives will onThursday come together in Amsterdam to discuss the proposalsmade under the EU aviation package. (Reporting by Victoria Bryan; editing by David Clarke)
