While airlines are endeavouring to capture markets and dominate hubs, it is in the interests of airports to seek to prevent such concentration and domination. ACI supports air transport liberalization, provided that it is accompanied by appropriate government action designed to maintain competition, airport autonomy and consumer choice. The changing business environment of the aviation industry will affect the management and operation of airports. Airports need to make money. They provide an important service, which must be commercially viable, just like all the other services which make up air travel.
Airlines have a tendency to blame airport charges for their financial problems.
However, airport charges worldwide have been a very stable component of the operating costs of airlines. On average, they have remained at around 4 per cent of the costs of airlines over the past 10 years. Speeding Up the Journey Travellers often remember delays more than super efficient airports. The slow and inefficient clearance of passengers, baggage and cargo by government inspection services at many international airports causes bottlenecks and delays. These delays may deter travellers.