QE
Question for written answer E-002130/2015
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE)
Subject: Low-cost airlines moving from secondary airports to major primary airports - use of public money granted under new State aid rules for a competitive aviation sector
Low-cost carriers have brought important benefits for passengers, enabling millions of European citizens to travel more cheaply.
Ryanair plans to increase its focus on primary airports in Europe[1][2][3].
Apparently, until now it has been the case that low-cost carriers will not, cannot or are not allowed by incumbent national airlines to fly to London Heathrow, Paris Charles De Gaulle or Frankfurt Airport, but every other main airport is now ‘on the table’, as we have seen with Brussels Zaventem and Barcelona El Prat.
The move by low-cost airlines from secondary airports to major primary airports, which are usually closer to the city centre, is, of course, a welcome improvement for consumers, who will not face the hassle of a bus trip to or from the airport, for example.
However, this raises an issue in relation to competition.
How does the Commission demonstrate and check, for example, that the public money, or State aid, granted by a regional government in order to attract a low-cost airline and install it at the regional airport of Charleroi will not be used to establish a new base at Brussels Zaventem airport?
Has the Commission checked, or will it check, that regional State aid is not helping to pay passenger taxes in primary airports?
Is the Commission looking at this new move by low-cost carriers?
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