The person nominated for president of the Board of Directors of ANAC, Ana Vieira da Mata, said today that complaints about the proposal to increase ANA's airport fees are being analyzed and that the decision should be made in December.
“There was a 15-day deadline to submit complaints, which ended on November 18th and ANAC is currently analyzing users' complaints”, said Ana Vieira da Mata, who was heard today at the parliamentary committee on Economy, Public Works , Planning and Housing, regarding his appointment as president of the Board of Directors of the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), succeeding Tânia Cardoso Martins.
Questioned by several parliamentary groups about the “monopoly” of ANA Aeroportos, Vieira da Mata assured that, if complaints about the increase in rates are substantiated, they will be accommodated by the regulator.
“The process is ongoing, we have 30 days to respond, in mid-December, in principle, the Board of Directors will deliberate”, pointed out the person responsible, ensuring that the regulator is able to defend the interests of users and strike a balance in the tension between the airport management and the airlines.
The parliamentary groups did not raise doubts regarding Ana Vieira da Mata's CV and ability to perform her duties, especially because she has been part of the civil aviation regulator's staff since 2000, having held several positions.
However, doubts were raised regarding the circumstances under which her appointment occurred, by an outgoing Government, and social-democratic deputy António Proa also questioned the legality of the appointment of two women consecutively as president of ANAC, due to to a norm that determines gender alternation.
Still regarding ANA/VINCI, the regulator's head pointed out that there are five cases currently being processed in court, filed by the airport manager against ANAC, related to airport taxes and telescopic bridges, in which the payment of “much more than 20 million euros.”
“In the analysis of all these processes that led to divergences of position, there is always rigorous action by ANAC, in strict compliance with the legal and regulatory framework in force”, assured Ana Vieira da Mata.
ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal has revised the tariff proposal for 2024 at national airports, now proposing an average increase of 14,55% in global terms, including adjustments to fees not charged in previous years.
By airport, the variation is greatest in Lisbon, with 16,98% (+2,29 euros), with Porto increasing 11,92% (+0,92 euros), Faro rising 11,35% (+0,88 euros) and Beja 8,77% (+17,71 euros). In the Azores, the proposal foresees an increase of 7,47% (+0,57 euros) and in Madeira of 7,92% (+0,98 euros).
Airlines such as Ryanair or easyJet publicly warned of the impact of the “excessive increase” in airport fees in Portugal, asking the civil aviation regulator to intervene.
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