TALLINN, Estonia (ChatnewsTV) — AS Tallinna Lennujaam, the operator of several Estonian airports, has announced the introduction of a new security fee of 2.87 euros and an increase in the fee for passengers with special needs by 0.18 euros.
According to a press statement released on Thursday, the changes will be implemented at Pärnu, Kuressaare, and Kärdla airports starting January 1, 2025, and at Tallinn and Tartu airports from April 1, 2025. The fees will be included in the price of plane tickets.
With the new charges, Tallinn Airport remains among the airports with the lowest security fees in Europe. By comparison, Iceland’s security fee stands at 20.2 euros, Latvia’s is 5.96 euros, and Finland’s is 5.71 euros. Lithuania has yet to establish a security fee. The fee for passengers with special needs will be adjusted to 0.48 euros per departing passenger, driven by a rise in the number of service users and related costs.
Airports are required to consult annually with airlines regarding changes to airport fees. According to Riivo Tuvike, chairman of the board of AS Tallinna Lennujaam, the dialogue has been transparent, although the news was not warmly received by airlines.
“None of the airlines were happy to hear about the introduction of the security fee, but the change and its reasons are understood, and our prices continue to be competitive,” said Tuvike.
“We raise prices as little as possible and believe that a 3-euro higher ticket price will not make people change their travel plans.”
The introduction of the security fee is seen as necessary to maintain high-quality security services amid rising costs. Over the past year, the airport’s expenses have surged by nearly 30%, prompting the need for additional funding. Tuvike emphasized that the fee is crucial to cover increasing security costs and to ensure the airport’s readiness for upcoming infrastructure investments.
“The airport must ensure the safety of passengers, which is why we cannot discount security-related issues,” Tuvike stated.
“Target funding and the security fee do not fully cover security-related costs, and the difference is covered by the airport.”
Tuvike highlighted the airport’s plans to expand its passenger terminal, which currently serves 2.8 million passengers but is expected to handle 3.5 million by the end of the year. The 53-million-euro expansion is set to begin next year.
“The airport is an important infrastructure from the point of view of the circulation of the economy, which must not remain a bottleneck for economic development,” Tuvike added.
Additionally, the Estonian Minister of Infrastructure, Vladimir Svet, has signed an agreement to invest 14.4 million euros in improving the energy efficiency of Tallinn and regional airports. The funding, derived from CO2 trading revenue, will be allocated for upgrades to heating systems and electricity networks.
“We can only use the state’s money allocation for the purpose of making the heating solutions and electricity networks of the airport buildings more efficient,” Tuvike said.
The funds will be distributed to AS Tallinna Lennujaam from 2024 to 2027, supporting both Tallinn Airport and smaller regional facilities.
The adjustment of airport charges is guided by strict international and EU regulations. EU Directive 2009/12/EC requires that fees adhere to principles of non-discrimination, transparency, and consultation, ensuring fairness between airports and airlines. The rules are also embedded in the Estonian Aviation Act.
Airport fees are typically divided into charges per aircraft (e.g., landing and parking fees) and per passenger (e.g., passenger and security fees), with varying proportions at different airports. The adjustments at Tallinn Airport aim to strike a balance between maintaining service quality and remaining competitive within the European aviation market.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
