Brussels Airlines has lodged a complaint with the European Commission against “illegal state aid” granted to Charleroi Airport, Brussels Airlines CEO Dorothea von Boxberg said on Monday.
The complaint relates to ‘terminal navigation charges,’ an amount airspace manager Skeyes collects for each take-off. At Brussels Airport, the airlines have to contribute part of the payment, whereas at regional airports, the entire amount is paid by the authorities.
“The regional airports and Brussels Airport are not being treated equitably,” said Ms. von Boxberg, who has been at the helm of Brussels Airlines since mid-April.
“It’s not fair that the federal and regional governments are paying this tax in full at regional airports like Charleroi, which are in direct competition with us, while we ourselves are paying a large proportion,” she argued.
Brussels Airlines says such a situation is detrimental to it, especially when it has to compete with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, the largest carrier at Charleroi airport.
Informal consultations on the issue have already been held, but “we now feel that this is too detrimental to us,” added the Brussels Airlines CEO.
The complaint lodged recently comes solely from Brussels Airlines and is directed against Charleroi Airport, which represents its most direct competitor.
The airline hopes the European Commission’s investigation will restore a “level playing field,” where the taxes in force at the various airports are correctly imposed.
