EU: Airlines push back on payments to air traffic controllers

Airlines want to defer payments to Europe’s air traffic controllers, worth about E500m a month, as they battle a deepening cash crisis from a virtual shutdown of international travel amid the coronavirus pandemic. Carriers are collectively pushing back on paying February’s charges that are due next month to Eurocontrol, according to people familiar with the situation. Eurocontrol co-ordinates national air traffic management agencies and is responsible for collecting route charges from carriers to fund air navigation facilities and services in the EU. A4E said it was asking govts in the region to defer the payment of air traffic control charges due as well as waiving aviation taxes at EU or national level to help the sector’s future recovery. <br/>