26 November  2009

CANSO Sets Record Straight on European Air Navigation Charges
CANSO responds to airline criticism of a proposed increase in European navigation charges by “setting the record straight”
on how charges are set, and what Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) have done to reduce costs. 

CANSO Secretary General Alexander ter Kuile said:

“IATA blaming ANSPs for proposed increases in State Air Navigation charges is wholly
inappropriate and inaccurate. Let us set the record straight. The European ANS charges are set by government and include many State costs. The charges are not set by the ANSPs.

ANSPs have made great efforts to reduce their costs, and IATA’s own figures clearly indicate that the overall cost of European navigation charges is falling by 3.8 percent in 2010. The real issue is that in this extraordinary crisis, the severe downturn in flights – 6.3 percent on average – has simply outstripped the ability of ANSPs to cut costs faster, resulting in some States having to increase navigation charges per flight.

Judging by the losses suffered by many IATA members, airlines have similarly been unable to cut costs faster then the decline in their revenues.

In response to the crisis, ANSPs have accelerated the trend of reducing European ATM costs, which has seen average charges fall by 3 percent each year since 2003. Measures have included headcount reduction, deferment of investment, and internal budget cuts.

> Read full CANSO presserelease 

Eurocontrol will on behalf of the member states announce the air navigation service charges in December 2009.

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