Baltic Air Charter Association Issues Strong Statement Against New Charges

LONDON, 12 March 2008 – The Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) and its members are calling for an immediate review of today’s decision by the Civil Aviation Association (CAA) to permit higher landing charges at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. BACA is asking the government to quickly hold consultation meetings with all the interested parties, so that a solution can be found, which will not be detrimental to the English air industries.

According to Markham Jackson, Chairman and chief spokesperson for BACA, “After this morning’s news I have been receiving a multitude of calls from members complaining that these charges at Heathrow and Gatwick will result in disproportionate fare increases for the passengers and customers using these airports. We feel that there should now be urgent consultation between all interested parties to discuss this current situation. Any increases or charges should be thoroughly shelved until the result of such discussions.”

Members of the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA), the world’s largest and most prestigious network for aircharter professionals, have been reacting strongly to the increase in charges, which the CAA announced today that they will soon be allowing the British Airports Authority (BAA) to levy at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. The CAA reports that the charges over the next five years, beginning 1 April 2008, will rise by 23.5 per cent above inflation in year one and by 7.5 per cent above inflation each year between 2009 and 2013.

BACA agreed with British Airways (BA), in their most recent comments that the CAA’s decision to allow BAA to ramp up airport charges conclusively demonstrates that the airport regulation system is failing fast. “This is seen as detrimental industry-wide” said Jackson.

When the Spanish-owned company Ferrovial purchased the BAA, in a move that left Ferrovial heavily debt-laden, the CAA indicated that they would not take into consideration Ferrovial’s woeful financials when determining the fees that the BAA can charge. “Clearly this was ignored” stated Jackson.