Thessaloniki Form adopts two papers

27 January 2021: The Thessaloniki Forum of Airport charges regulators convened on 21 January. The Forum was put into place in 2016 to contribute to a better efficiency of airport services and a better implementation of Directive 2009/12/EC on Airport Charges (ACD).

At the Forum, IATA gave a status of the impact of the crisis on behalf of the industry (see their presentation here).

ERA together with other airline associations advocate for a review of the ACD to integrate the non-aeronautical revenues in the airport cost allocation calculation.

The Forum adopted two papers on cost allocation and environmental issues.

The report on cost allocation details the existing airport till structures, and recommends that the Member States empower the member States Independent Supervisory Authorities (ISA) to determine the till structure based on clear statutory duties and/or policy direction, where relevant, as part of any broader system of economic regulation in place. The ISA might decide to revise the till structure to take into account new factors or priorities.

In the report on environmental issues, the Forum recalls the polluter pays principle and recommends that the revenue neutrality principle has to be applied even if external costs are reflected.

The papers will be published in the coming days. These reports have been formulated considering the views of representatives of the airport and airline communities. The report does not represent the views of the European Commission and does not change the requirements of the ACD.