2013 Charleroi airport (CRL/EBCI) latest news

[teddybAIR]

All this fuzz about 3€ for a luxury product that is mainly consumed by wealthy people while prices for primary goods seem to skyrocket and intrest rates on savings account plummit to ridiculous low levels. Maybe we should learn to put some things in the right perspective again...

[teddybAIR]

Official Ryanair reaction:

RYANAIR TO CUT CHARLEROI TRAFFIC BY 17% IF
WALLONIAN GOVT INTRODUCE E3 TRAVEL TAX

1M PASSENGERS & 1,000 JOBS AT RISK AT CHARLEROI

Ryanair, Europe's only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (17 Jul) warned it will be forced to cut its Brussels Charleroi traffic by 17% if the Wallonian Govt proceeds with plans to introduce a E3 travel tax, which will result in the loss of over 1m passengers p.a. and 1,000* jobs at Charleroi Airport.

Ryanair, the largest airline in Wallonia, said the planned E3 tax (due for introduction on 1st Jan 2014 if passed by the Belgian Govt) would cause the same level of damage that similar taxes have done in other EU countries, including Ireland, where passenger numbers at Irish airports have fallen by over 24%, from 30m p.a. in 2007 to less than 23m in 2012.
The Belgian Govt scrapped plans for a similar tax in 2008 and since then Ryanair's traffic at Brussels Charleroi has more than doubled, from 2.5m to over 6m passengers in 2013. A passenger tax introduced in the Netherlands in 2008 was scrapped by the Dutch Government in 2009 after it cost them over E1bn in lost revenue, as passengers switched to cheaper airports in neighbouring countries. Denmark has also scrapped its passenger tax and subsequently returned to growth.
Ryanair warned the planned tax will inevitably lead to huge traffic and job cuts at Charleroi, as passengers will now avoid Wallonia and switch to Zaventem instead. Ryanair has written to the Wallonian Government seeking an urgent meeting.

Ryanair's Robin Kiely said:
"Ryanair will cut its traffic at Brussels Charleroi by at least 17% should this self-destructive E3 travel tax be introduced. This will cause over 1 million Ryanair passengers and at least 1,000* local jobs to be lost at Charleroi in 2014.
This tax will also make Wallonia uncompetitive and will result in passengers switching to other, cheaper airports. Studies from across Europe have clearly demonstrated the damage caused to traffic and jobs by passenger taxes, especially in Germany, Ireland and the UK, and we are calling on both the Wallonian and Belgian Governments to scrap these plans or risk irrevocably damaging traffic and jobs.
Other EU countries have returned to growth by scrapping tourist taxes and cutting airport charges, in some cases to zero, and it is insane for Wallonia to shoot itself and Charleroi in the foot by ignoring these trends."

* ACI research confirms up to 1,000 'on-site' jobs are sustained at international airports for every 1m passengers

It is not the tax that will cost 1.000 jobs...it is the reaction to the tax that can cost 1.000 jobs. One tends to forget that the €3 tax will impact every flight departing regional walloon airports, yet only Ryanair responds immediately with threats to leave to other airports. Hardly a long term business partner worthy strategy, is it?

[Tomskii]

Ryanair just likes to pose threats to the gov. Hence even if you have to pay 3 EUR more taxes on your ticket when this tax is introduced... It's not like RYR instantly becomes unpayable... They are mostly still cheaper than any flight at BRU so.

And I'm sorry but it's not like RYR pays that much taxes in Belgium...

[teddybAIR]

Just a tiny bit pathetic for a company publishing this list of surcharges and fees to their customers. I never flew them and probably never will, but for the sake of argument I just browsed their website for a while. A 30€ baby-fee?! gotta be kidding, right? Or can you bring the kangoroo-belt as a souvenir?

[airazurxtror]

A 3 euros tax on a 30 euros ticket means a 10% rise in the price.
Fortunately, it's only on the flights from CRL, not the flights to CRL (and LGG).
And also Wizzair and Jetairfly would be affected by that tax, which should be effective from 1st january 2014.
If ever - because the Wallon government is far from united at the moment. It's a mix of Socialist, Catholic and Ecolo, and they have had serious dissensions of late.

[teddybAIR]

Hurray .... The haters are having a field day. If it were a BRU.air topic it would have been closed allready

It has nothing to do with loving or hating, simply with disagreeing...something every individual with an opinion should be entitled to. Now, the fact of the matter is that a fee will need to be paid by every pax travelling through a walloon regional airport and the only airline that has reacted to this moment is RYR. Therefore, that is the only thing we can comment about right now.

[crlhub]

Official Ryanair reaction:

RYANAIR TO CUT CHARLEROI TRAFFIC BY 17% IF
WALLONIAN GOVT INTRODUCE E3 TRAVEL TAX

1M PASSENGERS & 1,000 JOBS AT RISK AT CHARLEROI

Ryanair, Europe's only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (17 Jul) warned it will be forced to cut its Brussels Charleroi traffic by 17% if the Wallonian Govt proceeds with plans to introduce a E3 travel tax, which will result in the loss of over 1m passengers p.a. and 1,000* jobs at Charleroi Airport.

Ryanair, the largest airline in Wallonia, said the planned E3 tax (due for introduction on 1st Jan 2014 if passed by the Belgian Govt) would cause the same level of damage that similar taxes have done in other EU countries, including Ireland, where passenger numbers at Irish airports have fallen by over 24%, from 30m p.a. in 2007 to less than 23m in 2012.
The Belgian Govt scrapped plans for a similar tax in 2008 and since then Ryanair's traffic at Brussels Charleroi has more than doubled, from 2.5m to over 6m passengers in 2013. A passenger tax introduced in the Netherlands in 2008 was scrapped by the Dutch Government in 2009 after it cost them over E1bn in lost revenue, as passengers switched to cheaper airports in neighbouring countries. Denmark has also scrapped its passenger tax and subsequently returned to growth.
Ryanair warned the planned tax will inevitably lead to huge traffic and job cuts at Charleroi, as passengers will now avoid Wallonia and switch to Zaventem instead. Ryanair has written to the Wallonian Government seeking an urgent meeting.

Ryanair's Robin Kiely said:
"Ryanair will cut its traffic at Brussels Charleroi by at least 17% should this self-destructive E3 travel tax be introduced. This will cause over 1 million Ryanair passengers and at least 1,000* local jobs to be lost at Charleroi in 2014.
This tax will also make Wallonia uncompetitive and will result in passengers switching to other, cheaper airports. Studies from across Europe have clearly demonstrated the damage caused to traffic and jobs by passenger taxes, especially in Germany, Ireland and the UK, and we are calling on both the Wallonian and Belgian Governments to scrap these plans or risk irrevocably damaging traffic and jobs.
Other EU countries have returned to growth by scrapping tourist taxes and cutting airport charges, in some cases to zero, and it is insane for Wallonia to shoot itself and Charleroi in the foot by ignoring these trends."

* ACI research confirms up to 1,000 'on-site' jobs are sustained at international airports for every 1m passengers

1000 jobs is simply impossible as less than 800 people are working for the WHOLE apt (6.5 millions pax in 2012).

It is just the usual backmail from MOL as expected.Of course he will go ahead and then after the winter will come back.

It is a pure psychological tax,what about 3 euros really?Who cares?If you are not happy with a 3 eur tax,don't tell me that you will rush to EIN,LIL or wherever it may be.It will cost you much much more for a vast majority of people,depending where you live(with the exception of people living near LIL and EIN of course).Personaly I never understood all those Dutchies coming from very far in Holland to take a fly from CRL.It is a bit more understable for LGG ok true,but CRL.

Or the destination is the most important matter for you and then you choose the airport according to the routes available.Or you are much more 'cheap ticket,price sensitive',then you choose to fly anywhere where it will cost you less.

There are(to be frank) a lot of FR destinations which may desappear I will not miss them.

The FR first reaction is not so negative(he does not talk about closing the base or worst leaving CRL).You have the feeling if you read between the lines,that he needs more CRL than the opposite.A 17 % loss is important,but I'm quiet surprised by this % ...you got the feeling is was ready to announce it anyway(17..not 15..not 20)..strange.

This tax is paid by the pax,it will have impact on FR fares.FR which is THE specialist of hidden taxes,admin cost,CCards fees etc etc..dont' be joking MOL..please.

The routes making money will of course not be closed,maybe scaled down during the winter.And if I was MOL this would even be good news he just got a pretext to increase the fares,as less frequencies on the profitable routes will mean less seats to sell and higher prices(more cash for MOL)...

If you book FR just a few days before your departure during the high season,FR is sometime quiet expensive.


He has just ordered or is about to order so many AFT that he will have to use them anywhere anyway...no panic.


http://www.rtl.be/videos/video/451624.aspx

[sn26567]

Just deleted a few off-topic reactions.

Please remain on topic please: CRL Latest News!

[airazurxtror]

1000 jobs is simply impossible as less than 800 people are working for the WHOLE apt (6.5 millions pax in 2012).

Jean-Jacques Cloquet, BSCA administrateur délégué in "Le Soir", 18/5/2013 :
- BSCA has at present a bit more than 550 employees
- more than 3000 persons are employed by our partners active on the site of the airport, for instance in security and in selling food and drinks.
- furthermore, the airport promote the growth of jobs in hotels, tourism, transportation (coaches, taxis)

[crlhub]

Of course I'm not against CRL,but I do not see where they find these 3.000 employees??
Maybe 50% of this amount would be possible,which including airport staff would provide a total of let'say between 2000 and 2500 for all kind of jobs (apt + hotels,bus shuttles,taxis,shops etc all in).
But no more.

nb:a lot of people working at CRL are from BXL and from Flanders(mainly VB zuid) also.
A lot of former Sabeniens,Vex,Sn,handlers at bru etc..

[Passenger]

nb:a lot of people working at CRL are from BXL and from Flanders(mainly VB zuid) also.
A lot of former Sabeniens,Vex,Sn,handlers at bru etc..

And a lot of staff ar CRL are own Ryanair staff, officially based in Ireland.

The 17% decrease will be exactly the low season withdrawal they had already foreseen in their planning.

[Flanker2]

Just as expected, MOL didn't just take it.
He has to complain, because 3 EUR today may lead to another 10 euro's tomorrow, etc...

FR will settle for it in protest. In the future, MOL will be more and more challenged by the regional airports who raise their taxes one-sidedly in a unified manner.

But FR still has a way out. The day that the cost comes close to that of traditional airports, he will simply move his airplanes from regional to main airports and destroy legacy airlines established there. The more aggressive the business model, the more flexible the company needs to be against changing business environments.

He is right to say that pax will flow towards other airports that still depend a lot on FR and thus maintain an FR-friendly policy. For me, if CRL is more expensive than EIN, I fly from EIN. That simple.

[airazurxtror]

nb:a lot of people working at CRL are from BXL and from Flanders(mainly VB zuid) also.
A lot of former Sabeniens,Vex,Sn,handlers at bru etc..

According to Mr Cloquet, 80% of those who work at CRL live at less than 40 km away.
Many are rather young : the average is 33 years old.

[airazurxtror]

But FR still has a way out. The day that the cost comes close to that of traditional airports, he will simply move his airplanes from regional to main airports and destroy legacy airlines established there.

Yes, the day is near when Ryanair will land at Brussels.
Why ever not ? BRU needs passengers, no ?
Ryanair already land at Madrid and Barcelona, Dublin and Gatwick, for instance.

[Airbus330lover]

it's not 3 euro/pax at BRU

[crlhub]

nb:a lot of people working at CRL are from BXL and from Flanders(mainly VB zuid) also.
A lot of former Sabeniens,Vex,Sn,handlers at bru etc..

According to Mr Cloquet, 80% of those who work at CRL live at less than 40 km away.
Many are rather young : the average is 33 years old.

40 kms away you are near BXL/BW/VB...

CRL is not charleroi city,it is located in the former district of Gosselies 8 km north from the city south station(center).

Very easy to come to CRL by our freeways system it is 30 mins from the south of bxl,20 mins from halle,rhode etc..and even less from waterloo,braine,nivelles.

If you live in the south of BXL/BW/VB and need to reach zaventem with the traffic jams and make an almost full ring drive,it will take even more time than going south to crl.

If working in shifts even better.

NB:do not worry to much for FR ...

http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/ ... _3234.html

[sn26567]

For me, if CRL is more expensive than EIN, I fly from EIN. That simple.

Do you include your car costs from home to airport at 0.3470 €/km (official Belgian rate), plus your parking costs at the airport in your calculations?

[convair]

It seems to me some people are a bit over-reacting here.

Sure, nobody wants to pay more taxes, and I'm certainly not in favour of this one. However, it's only 3 €! Allright, 3 € is 3 € and it is one less Coke I can buy, and 3 € here, 3 € there etc...and if you don't react, it'll soon be 5, then 10, then...

MOL will not decide to reduce its offer in CRL (except of course for the usual winter adjustment); the pax will decide; they will tell MOL if the extra 3 € make CRL less competitive. And I doubt they will.

It might be that this 3 € tax is just under the hurdle the pax would see as a deterrent that would lead them to another airport or drop their travel plans altogether. So it might just be that for once the government did consider the matter seriously before taking its decision.

Two questions now: is the tax on the one-way ticket? Can the government legally impose a tax on the return ticket too?

[Flanker2]

Do you include your car costs from home to airport at 0.3470 €/km (official Belgian rate), plus your parking costs at the airport in your calculations?

My obsession is efficiency, so my cost is around 0.07/km, including write-off. No, I don't drive a Hummer, nor a VW Polo, but a comfortable 5-seater diesel at 4L/100km that has a good trunk. Thankfully I know a thing or two about operating a car, and the golden rule is to not go to a garage except to a trusted garage and only for "heavy maintenance" requiring a crane or expensive special tooling.

Leaving that aside, CRL or EIN doesn't make a big difference to me, plus the Brussels Ring traffic may actually be more of a hassle than driving straight into EIN without traffic. As for parking fees, I know how to avoid them, I never remembered paying for parking at any airport. Isn't that what friends and family are for?

So it boils down to fares and schedule. For the same schedule, if EIN is 10 euro cheaper on a return fare, I would take EIN. That simple.
My airport usage is about 60% EIN, 30% CRL and 10% Weeze, because often CRL fares tend to be already expensive by the time I book them. Weeze is only used on last minute bookings when CRL and EIN are too expensive and the fare difference makes the longer trip worth my while.

Most frequent fliers do this. Sometimes it's funny, I met the same lady I don't know on 3 consecutive flights days and weeks apart, departing from 3 different airports each time on different routes... The 3rd time we smiled at eachother and then talked about how it could be possible. It was almost like in a movie and I was playing Matt Damon.

[teddybAIR]

My obsession is efficiency, so my cost is around 0.07/km, including write-off. No, I don't drive a Hummer, nor a VW Polo, but a comfortable 5-seater diesel at 4L/100km that has a good trunk.

That is a remarkable figure and quite an achievement. What do you drive? What does it drive on? Current dieselprice in my neigbourhood is 1,488€/l. At 4l/100km that results in 5,952€/100km or 0,05952€/km merely in terms of fuel cost without accounting for depreciation, maintenance, insurance, tax,...

So if you care to share your strategy...always happy to learn how to drive more cost-efficiently.

Regards,
bAIR