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(Adds comments from CEOs, response from airports body)
By Victoria Bryan
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 and to tackle air traffic control strikes thattypically occur each summer.
Airlines for Europe, or A4E, was founded by Europe's fivelargest carriers IAG, Air France-KLM, easyJet, Lufthansa and Ryanair, bringingtogether Europe's full-service and low-cost carriers togetherfor the first time.
It was formed after British Airways (BA) owner IAG left themain lobby group for full-service airlines, the Association ofEuropean Airlines, over what it saw as its ineffectiveness.
It hopes its combined clout will force the EuropeanCommission into action this year, especially on the issue of airtraffic control strikes. Michael O'Leary said rules should bedrawn up to force disputing parties into arbitration beforestrike action, and that existing technology should be used tokeep overflights running even if strikes do occur.
On airport charges, the association said a new study showedcharges at the largest 21 European airports have increased 80percent since 2005, with a 90 percent rise 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 can't have a situation where airport charges, not justoutstrip but way outstrip inflation," IAG CEO Willie Walsh toldjournalists in Amsterdam.
Airport association ACI Europe rejected the call for moreregulation.
"This is frankly hard to stomach given how passengers nowneed to pay additional fees for things that used to be includedin air fares, such as assigned seating, food and beverage,credit card fees and so on - now no longer categorised as partof the basic air fare," ACI Europe Director General OlivierJankovec said.
A4E's agenda does not include the issue of fast-expandingGulf carriers, given differing views on the subject amongst thefounder members.
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 and DavidEvans)
