Leading airline bosses demanded the EC toughen regulations on airports to stem rising airport charges.
International airlines Group (IAG) chief executive Willie Walsh said: “We are calling on the EU to strengthen regulation in the interest of consumers – If airport charges were lower, the benefits would be passed on.”
Walsh suggested charges at Europe’s biggest airports had grown by 80% in the past 10 years “while passenger charges decreased 20%”.
Speaking at an Airlines for Europe (A4E) summit in Brussels on Tuesday, he said: “We want the EC to focus on airport cost efficiency and genuine transparency. We want airlines to have meaningful consultations with airports [on airport development programmes].
“We want specific regulations for airports with the biggest market power.”
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary agreed, saying: “We want [the EC] to replace ineffective airport regulation with effective regulation.
“Too many airports tell us they are spending €2 billion on some marble palace, or in the case of Heathrow £14 billion.
“It takes some inventiveness to blow that amount on a runway that costs £120 million. We don’t need some grandiose palace. We want reform to end the egregious gold plating of airport developments.”
Walsh suggested: “There is a 50/50 chance of a third runway being built at Heathrow. But the price Heathrow is talking about is ridiculous.
“They first said £16 billion, now they are talking about £14 billion. If they thought they could get away with it, they would say £24 billion.
“We are their biggest customer and Heathrow treats us appallingly. Their costs are out of control. We have already knocked £2 billion off the price. I’m going to attack them every day.”
Walsh asked: “Who goes to an airport to look at a waterfall? You go to board a plane. I don’t want marble palaces.”