Brussels, 10/09/2012 (Agence Europe) - Increasing competition between airports does not justify the intervention of the legislator. Commissioned by the Airports Council International - Europe, the consultancy 'Copenhagen Economics' advises that greater account be taken of the end of the era of airports' monopoly, which characterised the 1980s and 1990s, in legislative proposals. This observation highlights the frosty welcome of the aviation sector to the airport package presented this year by the European Commission (EUROPE 10507). The consultancy notes that as there are more and more airports (an increase of 81 in Europe between 1996 and 2008), passengers and airlines have more choice. As a result, airports are more exposed to competition than in the past, and are at the mercy of airlines, which can play on their option to change supplier. The greater the weight of an airline in the slots timetable of an airport, the greater the power it acquires over the airport, the consultancy argues. And given this environment of increasing competition, the legislators should rethink their approach. The regulators should avoid making rules of an economic nature in places where competition is already effective. If regulation is needed, it should be applied on a case-by-case basis and established in full awareness of changes in economic pressure, 'Copenhagen Economics' concludes. (MD/trans.fl)