Paris Airports Criticized for Denying Airport User Charge Increase

Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) has criticized France’s transport regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Transports (ART), for rejecting a proposed increase in airport user charges submitted by Groupe ADP.

Proposal details

The proposal covered the Paris region’s main airports, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Paris-Le Bourget, and was scheduled to take effect from 1 April 2026.

Groupe ADP had requested a 1.5 percent rise in charges for the coming year. The company positioned the increase as a targeted adjustment intended solely to allow full recovery of the costs associated with operating and maintaining airport infrastructure and services.

How airport charges work

Under the EU Airport Charges Directive, airport charges are fees paid by airlines for access to infrastructure and services such as runways, terminals, aircraft parking, and passenger processing facilities. While airlines are the entities that formally pay these charges, the cost is usually passed on to travelers indirectly.

Rather than appearing as a separate line item at check-in, airport charges are typically embedded into ticket prices, cargo fees, or other fare-related costs. As a result, passengers ultimately bear part of the cost through higher airfares, even though the charges are collected from airlines.

Concerns over investment and long-term airport development

ACI Europe has warned that ART’s decision to block the proposed adjustment could weaken the financial stability of some of Europe’s most important airport hubs. By keeping charges at current levels, the regulator may limit Groupe ADP’s ability to invest in infrastructure upgrades, modernize facilities, and expand capacity to meet rising passenger demand.

ACI Europe described Groupe ADP’s proposal as reasonable and fair, noting that it was designed to reflect inflation and cost recovery needs while remaining below the pace of recent airfare increases in France.

Airline capacity cuts add pressure to the debate

At the same time, airline behavior is reinforcing concerns about airport costs. Starting this month, Ryanair has already begun cutting routes and reducing capacity at several European hubs, including airports in Germany, Spain, France, and Belgium. The airline has cited high airport charges as a key factor behind these decisions.

Ryanair has indicated that it plans to shift capacity toward lower-cost regions where demand is strong and operating conditions are more favorable.

Photo by Alexander Kagan on Unsplash