Commission seeks feedback on EU airport rules

The European Commission has today launched a public consultation to assess the effectiveness of three pieces of EU legislation governing access to and the pricing of services at airports. Citizens, professionals and experts alike are invited to give feedback on rules concerning airport charges, slot distribution and ground handling services at EU airports.

The consultation seeks to assess whether the existing EU legislative framework – including the Slot Regulation, the Groundhandling Directive, and the Airport Charges Directive – remains effective in achieving its objectives. Concretely, these rules determine, for example, how much airlines pay to use certain airport facilities, which in turn has an impact on the price passengers pay. They affect whether passengers find the connection they want at the time they need it. They influence also the waiting time and quality of service in relation to baggage handling. However, with market conditions changing, and with environmental priorities in mind, it is important to ensure the rules remain relevant and impactful.

The consultation considers recent trends such as market consolidation, airport capacity challenges, labour shortages, increased competition from non-EU airlines and airports, and the need for decarbonisation. The feedback received will also help the Commission identify opportunities for simplification and reduce administrative burdens.

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, stated: "Aviation plays a pivotal role in increasing mobility, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and facilitating trade – all to the benefit of EU citizens. It is also crucial for maintaining connectivity across the European Union's regions. So I invite all interested citizens and organisations to share their perspectives on our current airport legislation. We must cultivate a resilient, competitive, and sustainable aviation sector that ensures affordable connectivity."

The consultation is open until 28 October 2025 and is available on the Have your Say portal in all official EU languages.