European air fares 'rising way above inflation', ACI Europe says (updated)

Sas AB

14/11/2023 17:37

(Adds detail from statement, context)
       Nov 14 (Reuters) - Air fares in Europe are "rising way
above inflation," Airports Council International (ACI) Europe
said on Tuesday, rebutting statements from airline lobby group
IATA.
    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) - which
represents some 300 airlines including Lufthansa  LHAG.DE  and
SAS  SAS.ST  - had said that while air fares were rising below
inflation, charges from airport operators have grown above it.
    "While IATA states that air fares in Europe only increased
by +16% as of June this year compared to 2019, independent and
authoritative data from RDC shows such increase actually
standing at +38% over the peak Summer months," the trade
association representing European airports said in a statement. 
    This rising trend continued into October, ACI said, adding
fares were up 47% when booked three months in advance. 
    The Financial Times had reported in early November that the
European Union was pressuring airlines over soaring fares. 
    
        
  

 (Reporting by Olivier Sorgho; editing by Jonathan Oatis and
Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
 ((Olivier.Sorgho@thomsonreuters.com;))