Brussels, 28/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is pursuing proceedings in two cases involving landing fee systems in Italy and Spain, in accordance with the competition rules applicable to state-owned enterprises or those enjoying special rights (Article 86, former Article 90 of the Treaty).
In the case of Spain, the Commission finds that a system of discounts and different landing fees based on the origin of the flight is discriminatory, since domestic flights are given more favourable conditions than intra-Community flights. The discounts vary, depending on the number of landings, from 9% to 35%. Spanish domestic airlines -Iberia, Binter, Canarias and Spanair- have average discounts of 20 to 25%. There is no objective justification for such discriminatory treatment, according to the Commission. The Community Executive initiated the proceedings against Spain in 1995 and this country agreed to come forward with proposals for amending its system. Given the lack of progress, the Commission adopted a decision against Spain, giving it two months to report on how it will abolish the system, failing which the case will be brought before the Court of Justice.
As for Italy, the Commission has initiated procedures by sending a formal letter of notice to authorities in Rome. In this country too, domestic flights are given discounts of 57 to 64% of the standard landing fees for international flights. The Commission is of the view that this system discriminates in favour of Italian airlines, in particular Alitalia.
Further to a case opened against Belgium in 1995 on the basis of a complaint by British Midland concerning airport taxes at Brussels National airport, the Commission has been examining landing fees at all European airports. France, Ireland and Sweden have agreed to change their systems. Finland will be doing so before 2001. Portugal, on the other hand, is challenging the Commission's decision before the European Court of Justice.
In parallel, in 1997 the Commission submitted a proposed for a directive establishing a framework for European airport landing fees based on non-discrimination and proportionality between airports' real costs and the fees. This proposal is being held up in the Council because some Member States (Finland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and Greece) are opposed to fees that would reflect real costs at the airport concerned. These Member States defend a system whereby fees paid to major airports would provide support for smaller, less profitable airports, and consequently for regional development.