cleevemont
18.08.04, 14:12
High Fees Ground Easyjet Zurich Flights
By Peter Woodman, Air Correspondent, PA News
Low-fare airline easyJet is to stop flying to Zurich because of high charges
at the Swiss airport, it was announced today.
The no-frills carrier blamed “a ludicrous 132% increase in passenger fees at
Zurich in the last two years, and onerous operating restrictions” for the
decision to end Luton-Zurich services on October 31, 2004.
Instead, after six years of services to Zurich, easyJet will start Luton-
Basle flights on November 1 this year.
EasyJet chief executive Ray Webster said: “No airline likes to remove
services from its network, but our focus on enhancing margins and reducing
costs is relentless.
“Airports and their ground handling costs account for 32% of our total cost
base – higher than most other airlines.
“This is a rip-off, particularly as our customers do not value the airport
experience – they simply use them to get from A to B.”
Mr Webster added that some airports “assume they can charge whatever they
want, use ‘cost-plus’ pricing models, and charge for services that airlines
don’t want or use”.
“This is ‘old world’ thinking. Airports need to live in the ‘new world’ and
provide the right infrastructure at the right price.”
He went on: “As Zurich Airport has now realised, if there is no realistic
prospect of progress, we will take our business and passengers elsewhere.
“At any one time we are talking to a number of airports about future
services – to date we have six new European cities for this winter.
“We continue to search for airports that are willing to restructure, and want
passenger growth.
“Airports that ‘get it’ and grasp the new reality will be rewarded with
growth from Europe’s leading low-cost airline.”
