IACA, which represents 33 leisure airlines, estimates that air traffic services amount to 10% of their airlines' operational costs, and the overall cost of air traffic services in the Eurocontrol airspace is more than double compared to the equivalent services in the US.

Responding to the news of the price hikes, Sylviane Lust, Director General of IACA, said:

“These outrageous increases are a slap in the face for our airlines in today's difficult economic environment. The price hikes are additional costs that our airlines can simply not afford.”

“Despite the recent adoption by the EU Member States of the Single European Sky II package (SES-II), there is still an entrenched culture of inefficiency and monopolistic behaviour within the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), and systematically increasing charges year-on-year is part of this.”

“We were hoping that Member States felt morally committed to the cost-effectiveness principles of SES-II. Instead, we are appalled to note that Member States are building reserves off the back of suffering airlines in order to cope more comfortably with future performance targets.”

“As an association we have been working hard to push through reforms of the air traffic management system and to introduce performance regulation and a greater focus on cost efficiency.”

“It is utterly frustrating to witness that the personal plea from Commissioner Tajani has been ignored by most of the EU countries, and, in particular, by the five major contributors to the cost base representing more than 60% of total costs, thereby nullifying the freeze effort made by others.”

“IACA is urging the European Commission to intervene and force all Member States to comply with the requested freeze of the unit rate.”