2023-07-18 17:39:01
The airline has filed a complaint for “illegal public aid” received by Charleroi airport. The Walloon Minister of Airports is surprised.
The Walloon Minister of Airports, Adrien Dolimont (MR), is surprised by the decision of Brussels Airlines to file a complaint with the European Commission for “illegal public aid” received by Charleroi airport concerning the “terminal navigation charges”, an amount that the airspace manager Skeyes receives for services at Belgian airports.
Brussels Airlines’ complaint…
Brussels Airlines’ complaint relates to an amount that Skeyes receives for each take-off. At Zaventem national airport, airlines must intervene in part of the payment whereas at regional airports, the entire amount is paid by the authorities. This is what makes the CEO of Brussels Airlines, Dorothea von Boxberg, say that “regional airports and Brussels Airport are not treated fairly”.
… and Adrien Dolimont’s answer
The Walloon Minister of Airports recalls that Skeyes receives remuneration relating to air traffic control services respecting the European regulations and the 1989 Cooperation Agreement which establishes the basis for the assumption of operator costs. Since 2014, these costs have been set annually by royal decree issued by the Federal Minister for Mobility.
Still according to the minister, this royal decree provides that, for the airports of Charleroi, Liège, Ostend and Antwerp, the part of air navigation terminal costs covered by user charges in 2023 is equal to zero. And that the part of the terminal costs at regional public airports which will not be charged to users will be financed by other income from the Belgian State and the Regions. The part of the air navigation terminal costs borne by the Belgian State in 2023 for the airports of Charleroi, Liège, Antwerp and Ostend are equal to respectively 85%, 85%, 100% et 100%.
“Neither the Regions nor Charleroi airport are competent to set this pricing.”
For the terminal tariff zone of Brussels-National airport, the part of the terminal air navigation costs which will be covered by user charges in 2023 is set at 0.6860. “Unlike Flemish airports, for which all costs are borne by the Federal Government, Wallonia contributes 15% of the cost paid to Skeyes for its services at airports. For regional airports, all costs are therefore well taken care of by the public authorities. Charleroi airport is no exception. On reading these elements, it therefore appears that neither the Regions nor Charleroi airport are competent to set this pricing”, underlines Adrien Dolimont.
Finally, he indicates that “Charleroi airport has never objected to hosting the activities of the airline company Brussels Airlines if the latter wished to benefit from the services of the regional airport which has many advantages”.
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