Originally Posted by The SSK
The global airlines association - IATA, and the global airports association - ACI, are at war with each other at the moment. This IATA
Press Release will give you some idea.
Basically, the airlines have come to the realisation that the more they reduce their internal cost base, the bigger the proportion of external costs from suppliers and service providers who are basically monopolistic. It all came to a head after 9/11 when traffic levels dropped and airports simply increased their charges to maintain their income levels.
The situation will probably improve as they (airlines & airports) come to the realisation that they face the same long-term challenges, but towards the end of last year yhe relationship was just about rock-bottom.
There are a lot of talks about airlines going bankrupt - Independence Air, Delta, Northwest, Sabena, Swissair...
Can major airports go bankrupt? And what are the effects to the airlines that operate from the airport up to the time the airport folds? Or to the place served by the airport?