- Baltic states have high airport costs and high airport taxes
- Efforts to protect airBaltic from competition failed
- Growth requires abolishing aviation taxes and lowering airport fees
- Sweden and Slovakia cited as successful examples to follow
- Improved connectivity requires following those examples
Michael O’Leary of Ryanair is attributing poor Baltic connectivity to high airport costs and taxes during the Airlines for Europe briefing in Brussels. The Baltic states have high airport costs and high airport taxes. Willingness to lower those following Sweden, Slovakia, Italy or Hungary was absent.
O’Leary shared that efforts to protect airBaltic from competition had failed. He shared that he hoped airBaltic would survive. Growth and improved connectivity required abolishing aviation taxes and lowering airport fees.
The briefing heard that following successful examples of Sweden and Slovakia would reduce the cost of air travel to and from the Baltics. Abolishing aviation taxes and lowering airport fees were identified as necessary measures. The Baltic states needed to follow those examples to improve connectivity.
Michael O’Leary shared: the Baltic states have very high airport costs, high airport taxes and are unwilling u to lower those in following the example of the Swedes, the Slovakians, the Italians or the Hungarians in return for growth. I think there has been an an effort in the Baltic states to kind of protect air Baltic from competition. it has singularly failed and I do hope Baltics survives. Uh but if they want to grow, if they want to uh improve connectivity and particularly reduce the cost of air travel to and from the Baltics, they need to follow the successful examples of Sweden, Slovakia, and others. Abolish your aviation taxes and lower your ridiculously high airport fees.
