Brussels: ACI EUROPE condemns the decision of the French transport regulator (Autorité de Régulation des Transports — ART) to reject the 2026 airport user charges proposal of Groupe ADP for the airports of Paris‑Charles de Gaulle, Paris‑Orly and Paris‑Le Bourget.

Groupe ADP’s proposal to adjust airport charges from April 2026 is limited, measured and necessary. The proposed +1.5% increase merely aims at ensuring full cost recovery for the services provided to airlines and passengers. It is worth noting that this increase stands below inflation and well below the rise in air fares in France. By any measure, the proposal of Groupe ADP is reasonable, proportionate and fair. Crucially, it is critical to safeguard the financial viability of the Paris airports and their ability to invest.

It is particularly puzzling that ART justifies its decision by questioning the cost allocation system used by Groupe ADP. The Paris airports have extensively and thoroughly consulted their users on this cost allocation system — which has been long established, is independently audited and applied consistently across their aeronautical and non‑aeronautical activities. Casting doubt on such an established system introduces significant regulatory uncertainty, which in turn risks impacting required investments in infrastructure upgrades and modernisation, sustainability and capacity. 

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE commented: “Airports being capital intensive and immovable assets, predictable and stable regulation supporting long‑term planning and investment is essential. Yesterday’s decision of ART for Paris airports ignores that. In doing so, it undermines both the foundations for effective regulation and investment in critical infrastructure for competitiveness. This means that ultimately, this decision is nothing else than economic self‑harm for France. This is all the more worrying at a time when airports are increasingly competing for capital with other sectors including industrial batteries, data centres and clean energy generation.”