Aer Lingus criticises Aer Rianta's policies

Aer Lingus has strongly criticised Aer Rianta in a submission to the body established to determine airport charges.

It has said its views were "ignored" when the State-owned airport authority was making its largest investment decisions of recent years, and has criticised these decisions.

Aer Lingus told the Commission for Aviation Regulation that Aer Rianta's charges had risen while service quality had fallen. An independent determination of the level and structure of airport charges was needed, according to the airline. "In our view many of the largest investment projects undertaken in recent years have not provided value for money. Proper consultation with Aer Rianta's customers would have resulted in better value for money but our views were ignored.

"Future plans must be better targeted on airport customers' needs if service quality is to be maintained as traffic continues to grow rapidly."

The establishment of the commission and the initiation of the charges' review made for a unique opportunity to reverse a "deteriorating situation", according to the airline.

Airport users should not be required to pay for "inefficiency" on the part of the airport authority.

"Excessive costs of operation, service quality below expected standards and an inflated asset base due to inefficient past investments should be penalised through lower charges. Future investments should only be approved if they are timely, necessary and efficiently under taken."

The views of Aer Lingus are among 13 submissions to the commission, all of which have been posted on the commission's website, www.aviationreg.ie

In late June the commission intends to post its draft proposals for airport charges on its website. It will then invite comment on the proposals and consider those comments before coming to its final determination at the end of August.