ACI Europe condemns French regulator decision rejecting Paris airports 2026 user charges proposal

ACI EUROPE has condemned the decision by the French transport regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Transports (ART), to reject Groupe ADP’s 2026 airport user charges proposal for Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY) and Paris Le Bourget (LBG) airports.

Groupe ADP’s proposal to adjust airport charges from April 2026 is limited, measured and necessary. The proposed 1.5 per cent increase is intended solely to ensure full cost recovery for services provided to airlines and passengers. The increase remains below inflation and well below recent rises in air fares in France, making it reasonable, proportionate and fair. ACI EUROPE warns that the decision risks undermining the financial viability of the Paris airports and their ability to invest in infrastructure, sustainability and capacity.

ACI EUROPE also questions ART’s justification for the rejection, which centres on doubts over Groupe ADP’s cost allocation system. This system has been long established, independently audited and consistently applied across both aeronautical and non-aeronautical activities. It has also been extensively consulted on with airport users. Casting doubt on such a framework introduces regulatory uncertainty that could delay or deter essential investment in airport modernisation and competitiveness.

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.”

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