The Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG) has criticised the decision by the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Transport and Regional Development (HMWEVL) to provide fee incentives for new airlines establishing services at Frankfurt Airport.

According to BARIG, which represents around 100 national and international airlines, the new fee structure places established airlines at a disadvantage. Being one of the most expensive airports, FRA has additionally increased its charges for landing and take-off, while charges at other large airports are decreasing, for example in London and Amsterdam.

“We will closely analyse the decision made today by the Hessian Ministry”, said BARIG’s secretary general, Michael Hoppe. “We believe that the new charges catalogue discriminates established airlines that have been operating from Frankfurt Airport for many years. Fair competition is thereby impossible. Instead, a predatory competition with unpredictable consequences is initiated.”

The issue was brought to the forefront with the recent announcement that Irish low-cost airline Ryanair would base two aircraft at Frankfurt airport, Germany’s busiest, sparking outrage among German competitors due to the fact it received fee incentives.