Europe to tackle low-cost airline fees and give more support to regional airports

High booking fees and hand luggage restrictions are two practices of some low-cost airlines to be tackled by politicians, following a new resolution adopted by the European Parliament.

The resolution also said EU aviation policy should focus more on the needs of regional airports, as these airports are vital for social and economic development and can reduce congestion at big hubs. This could be done by integrating them in the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T).

Philip Bradbourn MEP (UK, Conservative) said regional airports are: “currently priced out of the market, leading to greater consolidation between major airports and airlines, the result being less choice and higher prices for customers.

“This must be counteracted by removing economic barriers and better defining their role in the transport network.”

Bradbourn called on the Commission to speed up work on the Single European Sky initiative and to find a way for regional airports to help alleviate capacity problems in bigger airports.

However, MEPs said “certain practices of dominant low-cost airlines” need to be tackled, including “abusive” booking fees, hand-luggage restrictions (which impacts on retailers at the airport) and a cap on overweight baggage charges should be considered.

What do you think of this latest resolution? Is the pledge to tackle some airline fees and restrictions fair? Have MEPs got it right in terms of their analysis of the problems facing regional airports and they ways they could be helped?