Question

• It has been suggested that congestion charges could be a solution to airport flight delays - in other words, flights would be charged higher takeoff and landing fees at times when the airport was congested and lower fees at off-peak periods - a cheaper response than building more airports or runways. What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree with this suggestion. As the peak periods arrive, the airlines make more money and have greater revenues. They use the airports much more and earn higher income. Hence charging them congestion fee is a better suggestion. In a way this is sharing of income between the airlines and the Airport. It is a better strategy for the government to be able to recover expenses for wear and tear due to higher usage of the existing Airport.

It will certainly save the government a lot of money rather than building a new Airport. Also it will avoid unnecessary usage by the airlines and they will optimize their flights to be able to pay the congestion charges.