Funding for small French airports queried
A think tank set up by the prime minister to look at ways to make savings has advised reducing state funding to regional airports – a measure which opponents say could put at risk many small airports.
The report ‘Cap 2020’ was produced by a committee of economists, politicians and business and public sector leaders who said its ideas (not limited to airports) would give savings of €30billion a year by 2020. It proposes in particular to “end all public funding whose efficacy is not proven” and identifies funds to small airports as one of two areas where spending is “particularly ineffective” (the other being supporting eco-friendly energy).
It adds: “In the area of air transport there are a lot of little airports that need public funding to keep going. One may ask whether it is necessary to maintain the current levels of support for all of these.”
One suggestion is to axe a scheme by which the government levies a higher level of tax on ticket sales at Paris airports than regional ones and distributes some of the money from Paris to small ones. The report says this should only remain for airports which are proven to be needed for the economic development of their area.
All airports with fewer than 700,000 passengers per year should have to submit three-yearly reports analysing what they cost the public sector, the committee added.
Only 19 out of around 100 commercial airports in France have more than 700,000 passengers. For example Bergerac has around 300,000 a year, Toulon-Hyères 500,000 and others far less, such as Brive-Souillac with 66,000 or Le Havre with 13,000.
However supporters like the Union of the Airports of France (UAF) say regional airports help link up isolated areas and attract foreigners including many Britons to buy homes there. One of UAF’s leaders, Bertrand Eberhard, said a cut to tax funds would mean “immediate death” for many small airports.
While the government wants to save money it is not obliged to follow the advice. The Transport Ministry has denied any intention to “abandon” their support to small airports.
