Passengers face threat of hike in airport fees

IRISH air passengers were landed with a triple blow yesterday after a raft of airport and fuel charges were announced.

A 50% increase for the rental cost of check-in desk areas at Dublin Airport was announced for airlines.

Ryanair called for the resignation of the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation, after his offices sanctioned the increase in the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) fees.

The airline said it intended to bring a judicial review of the increased rental costs before the High Court.

The rise was 10 times the rate of inflation and followed a doubling of check-in desk charges three years ago, as well as recent increases in car parking costs, said Ryanair.

“The list of price gouging by the DAA monopoly in the past five years is testament to the utter failure of regulation,” said Ryanair’s regulatory affairs chief Jim Callaghan.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey was called on to dismiss aviation regulator Cathal Guoimard.

The increase will mean airlines pay €25,000 per check-in area annually. There is also an increase in the hourly desk rental charge to €30.

But the Commission for Aviation Regulation’s offices said the knock-on price increase for air passengers would only amount to six cent per ticket, irrespective of destination. The commission said Ryanair’s previous legal actions against its decisions had been “particularly unsuccessful”.

Ryanair said it could not put a figure on how much ticket prices would increase by.

Elsewhere, it was feared airlines would raise ticket costs after German airline Lufthansa announced a rise of 21% in its short-haul fuel surcharges. The price increase came as the price of oil continues to soar. Fliers will pay an extra €17 each way from tomorrow, up from €14 previously.

It was suggested by critics of the extra fuel charge that other airlines could follow suit in the coming days.

A third blow was dealt to Irish fliers when Britain’s aviation regulator announced a 23% rise in landing charges at London’s Heathrow and a 21% increase at Gatwick from April. In a joint statement, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, BMI and Ryanair warned the increases would affect consumers.

Ryanair confirmed the fixed charge of £12.80 (€16.75) a passenger at Heathrow would affect those flying from Ireland.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Commissioner for Aviation Regulation has revealed it is considering the option of allowing rental charges for areas with self-service kiosks or check-in areas.

The facilities were introduced for Irish fliers to save check-in time.