Sir, - I refer to Michael O'Leary's letter (November 6th) about airport charges. Airport charges are one of the smallest elements of all the costs involved, accounting for just 3 to 4 per cent of airline operating costs. It is not credible to suggest that a charge which is lower than the local bus-fare to an airport, would influence a decision on whether to take a holiday or not. This debate has much more to do with Ryanair's profitability than it has to do with tourism.
Aer Rianta, unlike many other regulated airports, is not planning to increase its basic airport charges even if intra-EU duty free sales are abolished next year. We are not introducing a new growth discount scheme at Dublin Airport simply because, with double digit growth, there is no need. There will be new discount schemes at Shannon and Cork airports. The benefits of the discount schemes introduced in 1997 and 1998 at Dublin Airport will apply up to the year 2004.
Ryanair, on the back of a spurious tourism argument, is lobbying for its current average payment of £1.93 per passenger to Aer Rianta to be reduced to a flat 50p. A 50p airport charge would do little more than cover the electricity and gas bills at Dublin Airport. No other airline is looking for nor would expect such a deal. I am sure Mr McDaid was not referring to Aer Rianta when he mentioned greed. - Yours, etc., John Burke,
Chief Executive, Aer Rianta, Dublin Airport.