Flybe loses battle with Gatwick
A decision by Gatwick Airport to increase its summer landing charges by a massive 62.5% did discriminate against some airlines, the Civil Aviation Authority admitted today, but it ruled the discrimination was not unreasonable.
Gatwick hiked its summer landing charges in April 2011, but at the same time it reduced its winter charges to zero. As such, the entire cost increase allowed under the CAA’s price cap for Gatwick was loaded on to summer landing charges.
Flybe had complained to the CAA, under section 41 of the Airports Act 1986, that structuring charges in this manner unreasonably discriminated against it and other operators of small aircraft at Gatwick.
The CAA agreed the move discriminated against such operators but said that as Gatwick’s objective was to increase the efficient use of its single runway its decision was justified.
While some passengers may be harmed by the changes, the numbers involved are likely to be small and the adverse effects would be balanced by benefits to other passengers, said the CAA.
Today’s announcement confirms a provisional decision published in September last year.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025