Aer Lingus in fee row with Aer Rianta

Aer Lingus has strongly objected to the imposition by Aer Rianta of charges for using airport check-in desks.

Aer Rianta is seeking retrospective approval for charges relating to check-in desks at Dublin, Shannon and Cork. The charges have been levied for some time, but this is the first time Aer Rianta has sought official approval from the aviation regulator, Mr Bill Prasifka.

Aer Lingus, in a submission to Mr Prasifka, said Aer Rianta had ignored ground-handling regulations by imposing the charges previously without the approval of the regulator or the Minister for Transport.

At Dublin, Aer Rianta wants to impose a charge of €16,718 for annual check-in desk rental, plus an hourly check-in charge of €20.90. It claims this charge is significantly below cost and a fully cost-reflective charge would be €64,751 a year. Aer Lingus said the analysis behind these figures was "seriously flawed".

"In particular, no consideration has been given to the extent to which the cost elements are already recovered by Aer Rianta through airport charges," said its submission.

Ryanair has also objected to the charges.

In its submission, Aer Rianta said it was fully entitled to earn an appropriate return on capital in respect of its assets.

"The charges have been set having regard to the costs and value of the services/facilities that are being provided," its submission said.

The issue of charges for check- in desks, or "airport installations" as they are known, has been the subject of litigation in the Irish courts.