The International Airports Council in Europe has challenged a complaint to Brussels, submitted by two disgruntled associations, about excessive Lisbon airport charges, calling the claims "false" and unfounded.
At issue is a complaint lodged with the European Commission on 4 October by Airlines for Europe (A4E) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), following the sale of Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA) to the French company Da Vinci.
The associations claim that airlines and passengers in Portugal have paid at least 30% more in fees than they should have done, which has increased travel costs and has weakened the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy. (See: ANA's rip-off airport charges 'damaging competitiveness')
However, the the International Airports Council in Europe has send a document to the European Commission, which states that this claim is "false" and totally without foundation.
"Relevant facts and figures show unequivocally that, since the start of the ANA concession, airport charges at Lisbon airport have allowed significant growth in passenger traffic and in air connectivity," reads the document send by the Airports Council.
According to the document, passenger traffic at Lisbon airport grew 67% between 2013 and 2017, while direct connections rose 51.3% between 2013 and 2018.
The letter to Brussels notes ANA's “competitive airport rates and its proactive route development strategy, including a dynamic policy of encouraging airlines to develop new routes and sustained traffic growth,” adding that this has enabled Portugal to grow.
