Charges
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May 2013
Training and jobs: Making Germany a strong business and investment site
Lufthansa sites, workforce, departures, and highlights at a glance.
Article Graphics: Jobs, Reputation
January 2013
Aviation: European Commission demands fair competition
The European Commission is calling for new and effective instruments to ensure fair competition in international air transport. In light of the unabated growth of state-owned airlines, particularly from the Gulf region, and increasing financial burdens being placed on the European airlines, such a step is long overdue.
Article Graphics: Toxic quartet, Losing billions
January 2013
Ground handling services: Another chance for sustainable compromise
The EU is engaged in an intense debate over the planned liberalisation in ground handling services at airports. In mid-December, for example, the European Parliament sent the European Commission’s proposal back to the transport committee, thereby revoking its decision in November to reject the proposal in its entirety. The referral back to the transport committee now offers the chance for the aviation industry to find a sustainable compromise.
January 2013
“2012 Aviation Night”: Straight talk from the transport minister
German Federal Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer is unequivocally calling for significant relief for the air transport sector. As the minister put it in his address at the opening of the "2012 Aviation Night" event organised by the Association of the German Aviation Industry, the “toxic triangle” – consisting of the German air travel tax, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and restrictive operating times – has evolved into a "toxic quartet" through the disproportionately high increase in air navigation charges introduced by DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung.
October 2012
Europe at a crossroads: Support economic growth
Aviation is a driver of growth par excellence. Particularly in the current euro crisis, Europe must strengthen the competitiveness of its own aviation industry – and can take a lesson from the Gulf states. There is an urgent need to act in three areas.
Article: PDF Graphics: Below-average traffic, Earnings forecasts
July 2012
Euro crisis: Air Travel Tax & Co. straining tourism growth sector
Additional levies and charges such as the air travel tax are cutting into the core of the tourism industry. In the current euro crisis, this is a fatal development – especially for the hard-hit countries of southern Europe.
Article: PDF Graphics: Tourism pillar, Airline earning, Aviation economy, Hub functions
April 2012
Bottom of the league: Millions in losses due to dangerous cocktail of government actions
While Asian and U.S. airlines are earning billions in profits, European airlines are booking losses totalling in the hundreds of millions – a growth-oriented aviation policy is sorely needed.
Article: PDF Graphics: Connecting passengers, Fuel costs, Fleet, Traffic growth
April 2012
Ground handling services: European Commission promotes competition
The European Commission wants to harmonise regulation of ground handling services – socially-compatible competition, more efficiency, and high quality are the aims.
Article: PDF Graphics: Market shares, Compensation
April 2012
Air travel tax: Fears confirmed
Since 2011, airlines in Germany have been paying the air travel tax, which is causing serious market distortions.
The article: PDF
April 2012
Air traffic control: Costs continue to rise
As of January 1, the air traffic control charges of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung for admissions and departures have increased 5.1 percent and route charges, 3.3 percent.
The article: PDF
October 2011
Air traffic control in Europe: Enormous challenges for the future
The Single European Sky is Europe’s most important project in aviation policy. The goals are to increase timeliness and reduce carbon emissions through direct flight routes and greater cost efficiency. Yet implementation continues to drag on; member states have fallen far behind the targets they set for themselves.
The article in a PDF format
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Comparision EU-USA
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FABs
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Detour
Image: JPEGJuly 2011
Setting the course: EU aviation must remain competitive
The pressure from competition in global aviation continues to grow. To be able to compete in the global marketplace, European airlines need markedly better framework conditions. On issues such as the Single European Sky, ground services, or slot allocation, the EU and member states must in the coming months take decisions that will set the direction for the future of EU aviation.
The article in a PDF format
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Single european sky
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Cost efficiency
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Consumer protection
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Air transport
Diagram: JPEGOctober 2010
Air travel tax: Let global competition work
The German air travel tax goes into effect starting in 2011. The German government is thus disregarding important arguments brought by the domestic business community as well as lessons learned from aboard – and thereby delaying the planned harmonisation of European travel taxes.
The article in a PDF format
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Compulsory levy: Air travel tax penalises German airlines
The tax dubbed an “environmental air travel levy” is supposed to inject € 1 billion into the public coffers in Germany, threatening to cause German airlines to fall behind in international competition and placing German jobs at risk. What that has to do with environmental protection remains a mystery.
The article in a PDF format
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Emissions in percent
Diagram: JPEGMarch 2010
Spain finally reforming air traffic control
The Spanish government plans to reform its air traffic control service Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (AENA). In a first step, it is prohibiting its governmentowned company from introducing further fee increases in 2010. The ban comes very late. Measured against productivity, one AENA air traffic controller costs 355 euros an hour, while the European average is 125 euros! Meaningful reform efforts are necessary to achieve half-way acceptable charges for air traffic control services.
The article in a PDF format
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Ground Handling: Time for policy makers and airports to step up
Both policy makers and airport management have failed over the past years to adapt ground handling services to the changed market conditions in Germany The situation is entirely different for competitors in other European countries.
The article in a PDF format
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Raising transport performance – reducing environmental effects
Diagram: JPEG
- December 2008
Timid airport charges directive
In spring 2009, the Council of Transport Ministers will tentatively adopt the EU directive on airport charges. The hoped-for impetus for fundamental reform of the relationships between airports and airlines has failed to materialize for Germany. After years of discussion, the European Parliament and the Council in the past months settled on a compromise which is not very innovative and thus not very satisfactory.
The article in a PDF format
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- February 2008
Strengthening EU aviation through fair arrangement
Disputed airport charges have been straining the relationship between airlines and airports for years. The European Council and the EU Parliament must now agree on a sustainable directive to create more transparency and efficiency – an aim which would benefit EU aviation in global competition.
Third Attempt Diagram: JPEG
The article in a PDF format
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- October 2007
Airports: Enhancing performance through fair charges
The non-aviation sector at European airports is booming, and the airlines, which draw passengers with attractive connections, are the basis for this trend. But so far only the airport operators are profiting. In order for everyone to benefit, the antiquated system of calculating airport charges must urgently be changed.
Rising revenues in the non-aviationsectorDiagram: Powerpoint | JPEG
The article in a PDF format
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- June 2007
Airport charges: Independent regulatory body needed
There is a perhaps unique set of interlocking of interests in Germany. The state governments are responsible for approving airport charges, while at the same time owning shares in virtually all the airports. An independent regulatory body – as called for by the EU – is urgently necessary.
Airport charges – galloping cost trendDiagram: Powerpoint | JPEG
The article in a PDF format
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- December 2006
Groundhandling at EU airports: Anachronistic setbacks
For many years, EU airlines have demanded more competition among providers of groundhandling services – a prerequisite for higher levels of quality and efficiency at airports and improved competitiveness for the airlines. However, market regulations in Germany prevent new service providers from entering the market and thus secure the airports’ monopolistic position.
Red light for GermanyDiagram: Powerpoint | JPEG
The article in a PDF format
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- December 2006
Lisbon Strategy: Moving Europe ahead
The EU’s Lisbon Strategy aims to promote economic growth and employment across Europe. Germany’s EU Presidency now needs to significantly strengthen the competitiveness of EU airlines. Only a strong aviation industry can continue to provide decisive economic stimuli.
European airlines – reliable job engines in the EUDiagram: Powerpoint | JPEG
The article in a PDF format
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- April 2006
Air transport needs more competion
The airport industry is characterised by monopolistic structures. Airlines and passengers pay the price in the shape of excessive fees – political measures are urgently necessary.
Five-year average of profits before taxes and interest expenses, in relation to revenuesDiagram: Powerpoint | JPEG
The April 2006 edition in a PDF format (276 KB)
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