Airlines slam Heathrow’s 90 per cent airport fee hike
Heathrow Airport is in talks with airlines to raise airport fees by a massive 90%.
The airport is proposing raising fees from £19.36 per passenger to £37.63, the FT reports.
It says it is the only way to claw back pandemic-related losses.
This would lead to higher airfares for passengers, which the airport claims would only add 4% to an average flight.
"The vast majority of airports across the UK and the world are having to increase their prices It’s not a uniquely Heathrow phenomenon, but a legitimate response to keep airports operating," Heathrow said.
Unsurprisingly, airlines are up in arms.
"Heathrow’s plan will thwart our industry’s ability to support the recovery of UK businesses," said Luis Gallego, CE) of International Airlines Group (IAG).
"Increasing charges will penalise UK customers and trade."
It amounts to ‘loading the burden on to paying customers and an industry already severely hampered by Covid-19’ Virgin Atlantic said.
IATA also called out Heathrow’s ‘outrageous behaviour.’
Heathrow lost about £2 billion in 2020.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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