Lower airport charges at Chopin Airport

The new airport charges, approved by the President of the Civil Aviation Office, came into effect on 15 December. Whereas basic rates remain unchanged since 2009, a number of new discounts have been put in place, aimed at encouraging carriers to launch new services from Warsaw and increase frequencies on existing routes.

The most important changes include:

- An increase in the landing charge discount for a new European route in the first two years of operation from 75% to 85% in the first and from 50% to 75% in the second year;

- A discount for all transfer passengers and not only transfer passengers on new route flights. The transfer discount for domestic traffic is lower than for international traffic, but together with the domestic traffic discount the passenger charge for domestic transfer passengers will be equal to that for international ones, i.e. a 25% discount will be granted in 2013 and a 50% discount in 2014 and 2015;

- An increase in the flight frequency discount from 25% to 40%;

- Introduction of a 25% landing charge discount for increase of all cargo operations with respect to each additional operation;

- Introduction of a landing charge discount for launching a new non-European all cargo route amounting to 50% in the first two years and 25% in the third year of operation;

- Securing the aircraft refuelling process is now considered an extra service, charged at PLN 179 per operation;

- Introduction of a charge for additional guarding of an aircraft amounting to PLN 200 per guard for each hour the aircraft is guarded.

The following discounts have been upheld:

- A discount of up to 99% on the landing charge for new non-European routes;

- A 15% passenger charge discount for domestic flights;

- A 50% landing charge discount for large aircraft for each tonne over 100 tonnes of the aircraft MTOM.

"We understand the difficult situation on the aviation market and make constant efforts to meet airlines expectations, for the last four years we have been systematically lowering airport charges by extending the discount system. We receive feedback from carriers indicating that such policy is most welcome. Our airline-friendly approach resulted in new long-haul services launched by Middle East carriers," says Piotr Nalej, Chopin Airport Commercial Bureau director.

According to the independent website www.airportcharges.com Chopin Airport offers the lowest rates from among all airports in Central European capitals. The full airport charges price list, including discounts, is available HERE.