Portugal flights to be more expensive
… as airport fees rise
Following up on the previous post, the Daily Star in the UK headlines that Brits are being warned that “holidays to sunny Portugal could be about to get more expensive” as authorities look to raise the cost of airport fees next year – and customers could end up paying the costs.
The newspaper reports that the proposed rise in airport fees from the Portuguese airport authority, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, means the cost of a trip to the country will become more expensive next year. If the hike in fees is agreed upon for 2023 then the increase could see carriers pay up to 15% more to use Portugal’s airports.
This will likely be passed onto customers with the price of a ticket going up – likely by a few pounds – not quite the sensational headline the Star was looking for!
ANA said last week that they hoped to have the new fees in place by February next year, and claims it will use the money to pay air traffic controllers, ground crew and baggage workers.
The Star understands that the increase will amount to 31p in the Azores, 69p in Madiera, 71p in Porto, 80p in faro and £1.34 in Lisbon. Before the cost increase comes into play it needs to be approved by the National Civil Aviation Authority.
However, some airlines are unhappy with the proposal. A spokesperson for Ryanair noted: “The increase in fees will harm the recovery of tourism in Portugal. “There is no justification for a 15 per cent increase in ANA’s already high airport fees, especially when Portuguese air and tourist traffic is still recovering after the pandemic and should be supported with lower airport fees.”
National flag carrier TAP has also criticised the airport fees becoming more expensive, reported here a week ago.
Portugal isn’t the only country that could be affected by increasing holiday costs next year. According to the Daily Star, Brits looking to jet off on Spain holidays for a week of sun and sea will end up paying at least £505 more now than they would have this time last year, new research suggests.
The shocking findings follow a year-on-year comparison of accommodation fees, restaurant meals, car hire and currency exchange rates.
