News: Airlines call for deregulation of Polish airports
Flights > News > # 767 (11/04/2006)
Budget airlines such as Ryanair have called on the Polish Government to reform the management of its airports by abolishing rigid centralised tariffs, which they say place regional airports at a disadvantage and hinders their ability to grow. The Irish budget airline also called for the opening of a secondary airport for Warsaw in Modlin so that competition could be increased to the Polish capital. The former military base of Modlin, which is around 20 miles north east of Warsaw, is now a Special Enterprise zone where new businesses are being encouraged to set up.
Ryanair have bold plans to increase their passenger numbers in Poland from 1.6 million to over ten million within five years and say competing airports around major cities have been hugely beneficial in driving down airfares and increasing visitor numbers. A spokesperson for central European budget airline Sky Europe, who have hubs in the Polish cities of Warsaw and Krakow, also agreed with Ryanair's criticism of airport management in Warsaw.
Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Regional airports in Poland must be allowed to fulfil their potential as wealth and job creators in their regions but they cannot do this when their costs are controlled centrally in Warsaw, restricting their capacity to compete for new business. Ryanair is committed to reducing the cost of travel for Polish consumers and visitors. We can only do this, if regional Polish airports are freed to compete on a level playing field for growth.”
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