WRITTEN QUESTION E-2572/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Air fares in the EU.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/23 In conformity with the above, the Greek and Italian legislation require the captain and the first officer of a vessel flying their national flag to be Greek or Italian respectively. The Commission can also confirm that both Member States require that the rest of the crew be Community nationals and not Greek or Italian nationals and this condition is also compatible with Community law. (2000/C 330 E/024) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2572/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 January 2000) Subject: Air fares in the EU Air fares within the EU vary alarmingly. Domestic flights are significantly cheaper than comparable flights to neighbouring countries of the Union. Lufthansa, for instance, quotes the following fares: ü Munich-Frankfurt, 1 hour, DM 299, ü Munich-Düsseldorf, 1 hour 5 minutes, DM 448, ü Munich-Vienna, 1 hour, DM 527, ü Munich-Paris, 1 hour 10 minutes, DM 763. Since these airports are served by various other carriers, it cannot be a case of differing market prices. Airport charges cannot be so very different either. How can the price differences between domestic flights and comparable flights to other EU countries be explained? What is the European Commission doing to bring about an internal market in air transport? Answer given by Ms de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (2 March 2000) Since the entry into force on 1 January 1993 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2409/92 of 23 July 1992 on fares and rates for air services (1), airfares within the Community have been completely liberalised. Prices are therefore determined by market forces. The differences in price between domestic flights and other intra-Community flights are gradually diminishing with the arrival on the market of new carriers with low operating costs. The remaining differences are mainly due to distance and volume of traffic. Generally, the operating costs of a route per passenger drop as the volume of traffic increases. Routes with heavy traffic also attract more competition. Domestic routes often have more traffic than other intra-Community routes. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2409/92 provides for the possibility of withdrawing a basic fare when it is excessively high in relation to the long-term fully allocated relevant costs of the air carrier. It is for the the Member States to apply this safeguard clause where necessary. As guardian of Commission is monitoring the implementation by the Member States of the last liberalisation package in the air transport sector which entered into force on 1 January 1993. It has already had to adopt several decisions regarding the granting of Community carrier licenses and, in particular, access to the market. The Commission is also monitoring the application of Community competition rules in the air transport sector, to prevent the creation of anti-competitive structures and to oppose agreements and practices by carriers which could restrict or eliminate competition. the Treaties, (1) OJ L 240, 24. 8. 1992