i dont think comparing cost to other countries would be an accurate indication, compared to the Uk, we are cheap, compared to the US, we are expensive, a more acurate indication would be Aircraft movements, at airports over time, the number of new licence issues and endorsments and the like. i remeber the days at YSBK you had to join a que while taxiing to depart on a weekend! these days, you could pretty much camp on the runway and not worry about being hit by an aircraft!