Europe’s airports react swiftly to “damaging assertions” by IATA
The airport industry was quick to quash claims by IATA which painted a “distorted and flawed” picture and ignored the dire economic situation faced by its members. In a statement issued on 4th October, ACI EUROPE pointed to the revenue collapse of -60% in 2020 and -65% in the first half of 2021 – and highlighted the fact that with predominantly fixed costs, airports are unable to reduce expenditure in line with falling revenues.
Taking on massive debt whilst posting historic losses, the airports have not benefitted from the same Governmental financial largesse as many airlines, they stated, and by requesting systematic freezes or reductions in airport charges, IATA forces airports into further financial distress. Speaking in response to IATA’s claims, Olivier Jankovec said “Focusing on investment in sustainable infrastructure will be essential in the recovery as part of the Building Back Better agenda. This calls for increased cooperation and long-term alignment between all air transport eco-system partners, rather than short-term unilateral actions at the expense of others”.
Read the full statement here.
