Higher charges proposed to improve airports

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has proposed increases in the charges that airlines are required to pay for the use of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with the aim of improving the level of service offered to passengers.

Airports operator BAA will be expected to use the revenue gained from the higher charges to upgrade the facilities at the London hubs and improve security.

Under the CAA proposals, which could come into effect next year, carriers will have to pay £11.97 per passenger to use Heathrow Airport and £6.07 to land at Gatwick Airport, which represent increases of 15.6 per cent and 8.2 per cent respectively from current levels.

The authority recognised that the proposed increases in airport charges are "significant" but said that the move should prove beneficial for both air carriers and customers.

"Passengers and airlines deserve better than they have been provided with at Heathrow and Gatwick in recent years, but need to recognise that improvements have to be paid for," said Harry Bush, CAA group director for economic regulation.

"The CAA considers it only right that, as airlines and passengers face the prospect of paying more to use each airport…there should be greater financial incentives on the airport operator to deliver the facilities and services that give rise to those price increases."

Mr Bush said that the challenge facing BAA is to deliver better service to passengers and airlines through "refreshed and expanded infrastructure".