Airport fees - what are they and how much do you pay?

Charges for airport services

How much you spend on a flight depends not only on the margins of individual airlines, but also on, among other things, the fees charged by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PAN) from a given carrier at the time of the flight operation, to the airport authorities for use of its infrastructure. This includes the terminal fee, which covers aircraft handling during takeoff and flight, and the route fee, which depends on the length of the flight and is charged for flights supervised by air traffic control. Furthermore, there is a security fee, which ensures the protection and security of passengers, their baggage, and cargo , as well as a fee for aircraft security on the apron.

What else does the airport pay for?

To this should be added airport fees paid by air carriers for services provided exclusively by the airport operator, such as takeoff, landing, lighting, and aircraft parking. These costs also include cargo and passenger handling, as well as fees for the use of airport facilities and space, and the use of centralized infrastructure. Additionally, the airport operator at public airports may establish noise and environmental fees. These issues are regulated in detail by Article 75 of the Aviation Law. Certain expenses are also collected from the airport by the Civil Aviation Authority, which, among other things, checks the airworthiness of aircraft, supervises the qualifications of airport personnel, collaborates with the State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation, and maintains an electronic database of aviation events. In addition, there are government taxes, i.e., fees imposed by states for the use of their airspace, and agency fees for ticket issuance and reservation processing.

Cases of exemption from airport fees

Airport fees do not include, among other things, ground handling services, services for disabled passengers, or those with reduced mobility. Importantly, passengers with reduced mobility—seniors or those recovering from accidents—are entitled to assistance during their journey within the European Union.

Airport fees paid by Warsaw Chopin Airport

Airport fees at Chopin Airport include:

a) airport landing fees

• for aircraft with a maximum take-off weight (MTOM) up to and including 25 tonnes (except helicopters): PLN 1,250.00 for each landing

• for helicopters with MTOM up to and including 25 tons: PLN 700.00 for each landing

b) airport noise charges

• from 6:00 a.m. to 9:59 p.m.: 0 to 4.50 PLN , depending on the noise category

• between 22:00-23:29:59 or 5:30-5:59:59 PLN 1.60 to 31.00 , depending on the noise category

• between 11:30 p.m. and 5:29:59 a.m. 6.70 to 108 PLN , depending on the noise category

c) airport passenger charges

• for each passenger traveling on a flight checked in at Terminal A: PLN 81

• for each passenger traveling on a flight checked in at the General Aviation Terminal: PLN 300

d) airport parking fees

for aircraft with MTOM up to and including 25 tonnes:

• for each commenced hour of parking: PLN 17.50

• for stops longer than 12 hours for the first 24 hours of stop: PLN 280.00

• for each subsequent 24 hours of parking started PLN 420.00

  * Noise categories are measured on a scale from 8 to 1. The highest class is noise equal to or exceeding 23 EPNdB. A detailed list of fees is available in a PDF file at https://www.lotnisko-chopina.pl/uploads/user_files/OH/HSL/EPWA-Taryfa-oplat-lotniskowych.pdf .

Main principles for setting airport fees

The above rates are primarily a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has drastically reduced air traffic in Europe and led to an increase in the price of a tank of fuel. The Civil Aviation Authority website states that airport fees at public airports are set as follows:

1. ensuring transparency in determining the amounts due for these fees;

2. enabling the aircraft user or other aircraft operator to check the correctness of the established amount due for these fees;

3. ensuring compliance with the principle of non-discrimination between aircraft users and other aircraft operators;

4. ensuring the stability of fares during the scheduling season, except in justified cases;

5. taking into account the profit-making purpose of the operation of the public airport operator - in relation to the take-off/landing fee, parking fee, passenger fee, cargo fee and additional fees;

6. taking into account the costs of services and the provision and maintenance of facilities and equipment necessary to perform air operations and handle passengers and cargo (goods and mail), while ensuring an appropriate standard of safety and quality of service, excluding costs covered by other fees.

List of airports in Poland serving over 5 million passengers annually

In Poland, terminal fees are divided into two zones: one for the main airport – Warsaw Chopin Airport – and the other for the remaining thirteen certified regional airports in Poland. Why this division? Chopin Airport is the only one serving over 5 million passengers annually. The basis for establishing the fee schedule at an airport with this capacity is approved by the airport operator. The airport fee schedule, along with the justification, is submitted for approval to the President of the Civil Aviation Authority at least four months in advance.