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ATC fee hike slammed by airlines
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has set out new charges payable NATS air traffic control services.
The costs, which are paid by airlines, will rise from £47 to £64 per flight until 2027.
It is an average increase of 43p per passenger to £2.08 on average.
It comes after the air traffic control IT meltdown in August which caused mayhem at airports.
It says it allows NATS to recover ATC service revenues from the period affected by the pandemic, which the CAA had spread over a 10-year period to reduce financial impacts.
Andrew Walker, Chief Economist at the CAA, said: “Our decision will provide the resources and investment required for a resilient, high-quality service.”
“Overall, the price control should ensure an efficient service and value for money.”
“We also recognise the disruption caused by the technical issue in August and we will consider any further regulatory steps as appropriate.”
This final decision follows initial proposals in October 2022 and a provisional decision published in July 2023.
Airlines have unsurprisingly criticised the fee hike.
It is ‘yet another kick in the teeth for passengers who have been plagued by issues this summer,’ said Airlines UK CEO, Tim Alderslade.
“It is clear that a wider independent review into how NATS is regulated is needed to protect passengers.”
During the NATS IT failure in August, about 2,000 flights at airports around the UK were cancelled.
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