Q40099:
With respect, your response is unworthy and less than informed. A rise in fees of this magnitude (expressed as a percentage) typically represents the natural conclusion of an agreed period during which discounted rates are offered by an airport company to help an airline 'bed-in' a new service. It is in fact a discretionary GIFT from the airport, invested in the expectation of achieving a future return for the airport business when the route matures to profitability and standard charges can be applied. Airports are not charities and need to pay their way and achieve reasonable returns like any other business. A margin of profitability is desirable! Most companies would be grateful for such financial assistance from their industry partners; a small number of disreputable companies instead abuse the end of the discretionary reduced-fees period to demonise their partners instead via the wilful promotion of bad publicity. Such behaviour is shameful and a disgrace to any management team guilty of indulging so.
Fortunately, more journalists are becoming wise to this ruse these days and are able to distinguish the smear-merchants from the professional management teams who are targeted by companies for whom the concepts of decency and ethics are considered no more than dirty words.
Airport companies across Europe have now had plenty of opportunities to observe how certain unethical airline companies behave. Perhaps the time has come for a brave few to turn away the unprofitable patronage [for the airport company] of the culprits, or levy standard charges upon them from the outset. There will be no 350% fee increases then, will there?
So go easy on CWL's management. There is more to this than meets the eye. Please be assured also that I myself have no links with CWL or its management team.
All the best, SHED.