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RYANAIR is calling on Spain’s Ministry of Transport, and the CNMC Competition Watchdog to block the proposed increases in airport taxes totaling 21% within the next five-year period.
The Irish company has threatened more cuts to regional airport services and described airport operator Aena’s proposal as ‘excessive’- accusing it of profiteering at the expense of Spain’s economy, tourism, and connectivity.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, stated: “Next winter, we will further cut regional airport services. I remind you that this summer, our traffic in Spain will only increase by 0.5%, compared to 9.5% in Italy, 11.1% in Morocco, or 20.0% in Poland.”
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Wilson said that the proposal by Aena to increase fares 21% was regrettable but not unexpected, since this airport monopoly is known for applying the highest prices at the expense on traffic development.
“Aena’s excessive proposal is the result of a fictitious consultation process during which airlines have spent the last four months providing detailed information, only for Aena to ignore these contributions in their entirety and announce that it would maintain the same ridiculous investment proposal of €13 billion that it announced last September- even before the ‘consultation’ began, he added.
His comments are the latest blast in an ongoing war between the Iow cost airline and Spanish authorities, which saw the company pull out or slash services last year at ‘unprofitable’ regional airports.
Eddie Wilson added: “If Aena’s latest proposal is approved, it will be a major turning-point for Spanish tourism as the excessive fee increase of 21% makes even the most popular Spanish airports uncompetitive.”
He warned that “Ryanair, the only airline in Europe with 300 aircraft ordered for the next decade, can generate significant growth. But, this proposal will just send these aircraft to other parts of Europe where the rates are more competitive.”
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