Athens airport has become a model for more than a dozen other airports in the world. Recall that in April last year, the Greek authorities decided to transfer to operation the company Fraport (Germany) 14 mainland and island airports. This contract will be valid for 40 years – until 2057.
Changes and Pros from Fraport
Such a financial agreement is not a goodwill decision. The German investment company received such a right in one of the open international tenders and has already paid the other party more than € 1.2 billion. In addition to this amount, Fraport has pledged to pay € 22.9 million annually. The final amount will vary based on the amount of taxes, various payments as well as the rate of inflation.
Today, the German company operates three mainland airports in Aktion, Thessaloniki, as well as Kavala and eleven island airports in Crete, Lesbos, Kosa, Samos, Mykonos, Corfu, Zakynthos, Cephalonia, Rhodes, , and Santorini. Every year, all these airports receive over 24 million tourists from all over the country and other parts of the world.
Until November 1, 2024, each of the passengers using these airlines will also be required to pay an additional tax of € 13 for reorganization, improvement of the condition of the airfields and their development. In addition, there is another security tax – 24% VAT. This means that such an innovation will cost each airline user older than 2 years another € 5.5 more. And 40% of these € 18.5 will be state revenue.
When will the innovation take effect?
It all depends on the date of completion of the repair work. For example, the airports in Chania, Zakynthos, and Kavala will be modernized by the end of 2018, so a tax of € 18.5 will be introduced for their users from 1.04.2019.
As for the airlines in Samos, Rhodes, Aktion, and Skiathos, the approximate date of payment for renovation is 1.04.2020. But as for the airport of Thessaloniki, the innovations will drag on for another 1 year, because According to preliminary estimates, the cost of repair work in the new terminal will be € 100 million.
Profit or forced measure?
Experts believe that a tax increase of more than € 5 is a reasonable step because almost every Greek airport in operation needs improvement both within and outside the terminals. Every year several airports in the resort of Greece replenish the lists of the worst.
Representatives of Fraport are sure that the additional tax will allow improving the quality of the services provided, avoiding long lines, complaints from tour operators, as well as improving the image of not only airports but also all of Greece.
But bills for such an upgrade are likely to be paid not by the tenant company itself, but by passengers arriving in a popular resort country. A comfort tax is nothing more than a service charge and quality of service.