Airports: Fees and Charges
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on airport owners increasing (a) airport and (b) drop-off charges above the cost of inflation.
Answered by Keir Mather
The Department does not intend to hold discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on these matters.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has concurrent powers with the CMA to enforce the prohibitions in the Competition Act 1998 as they relate to airport operation services and the supply of air traffic services.
In relation to drop-off charges, in 2016, the CAA published a review of market conditions for surface access at UK airports. This concluded that there was insufficient evidence that passengers were not being well-served by the current market structure of surface access charges, where these are decided and managed by the airport operator, to warrant a review.
Although the Government and the CAA do not regulate airport car parking charges, including drop-off charges, the Department expects car parking at airports to be managed appropriately and for consumers to be treated fairly. Many UK airports offer free drop-off alternatives either a short walk from the airport or provide free shuttle bus services.
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