[Article] Aer Rianta seeks 33% rise in Cork charges

Victor

MO'L is working on his press release already!

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/1714125?view=Eircomnet

Aer Rianta seeks 33% rise in Cork charges
From:ireland.com
Tuesday, 21st October, 2003

Passenger charges at Cork Airport are due to increase by 33 per cent from next year under a plan announced today by Aer Rianta.

The soon-to-be broken-up semi-state airport operator said it wanted charges to rise from an average of €6 per passenger to €8 from January 1st, 2004.

The airlines operating from Cork are being informed of the move today. It follows a move by the airport authority to increase charges at Dublin airport by 9 per cent in January.

These increases - if agreed - will be in addition to an another 20 per cent rise in airport charges sought by Aer Rianta under a review of allowed airport charges by the Aviation Commissioner.

Aer Rianta also said it intends scrapping route incentives and discount schemes from Cork Airport at the end of this year.

According to Mr Joe O'Connor, Cork Airport director, the current airport charge is "extremely low" when compared to similar non-subsidised airports in Europe.

The new charge was required to meet rising security and insurance costs and to finance essential capital projects, he said.

dmeehan

According to Mr Joe O'Connor, Cork Airport director, the current airport charge is "extremely low" when compared to similar non-subsidised airports in Europe.

Isnt it illegal to subsidise an airport according to the EU?


Anyway, this is precisely why Cork (and Shannon) need to be independent of Dublin. How is Cork supposed to rtry and attract new business when the lads in Dublin up the price by 33%. So what if they roll out a local guy to announce it, the decision is still made in Dublin.

Example of how independence would benefit Cork airport:
When Ryanair "pulled out" of Shannon they offered the Frankfurt route to Cork Airport if they received the new route discounts (that every other airline gets too by the way). Cork said Woo hoo, jst better ask DUB to OK the deal. Dublin guys said, "No, its not a new route, only transfer from Shannon"

So Kerry got the route instead

A prime example of Aer Rianta incompetence

Victor

Originally posted by dmeehan
Isnt it illegal to subsidise an airport according to the EU?

Under EU business regulations, it is illegal for a state organisation to provide an unfair subsidy to business. Under regional development regulations some subsidies can be provided.