The Association of International Air Transport Companies (AETAI) reported that it will present a challenge against the amounts set for the Unified Airport Use Fee (TUUA) for Transfers at the Jorge Chávez International Airport.
In recent days, the Supervisory Body for Investment in Public Use Transportation Infrastructure (Ositran) approved in an extraordinary session the Unified Airport Use Rate (TUUA) for Jorge Chávez Airport Transfers, setting the cost at US$10.05 for passengers on international flights and US$6.32 for domestic flights.
“Beyond the technical aspects and the increased cost for passengers, we reiterate that this charge seriously harms tourism and Peruvians. If the transfer TUUA is maintained, fewer travelers will choose to connect in Peru, weakening the viability of several international routes and reducing the access of Peruvians to international destinations that exist precisely thanks to the fact that Lima operates as a strategic connection point in South America.”, he noted in a statement.
The airline union pointed out that, unlike Lima, competing airports such as those in Bogotá and Panama City, which function as international hubs, do not apply the transfer TUUA.
“In fact, when applying a similar charge in one of them was evaluated, it was the concessionaire itself that asked the State not to continue ahead so as not to affect its competitiveness. In Latin America, only São Paulo-Guarulhos has a comparable rate of US$2.49, three times lower than that announced for the new Jorge Chávez (304% higher)”, he stated.
AETAI also indicated that the investment amounts reported by Lima Airport Partners (LAP) at the Callao airport “have not yet been audited, so Ositran would have assumed them as valid without any prior verification.”
“[Este hecho] It is worrying given that it is an amount that will directly impact millions of passengers and the country’s competitiveness.”, they add.
Regarding the announcement by Lima Airport Partners (LAP) to begin collecting the TUUA for international transfers from December 7 through booths, credit cards and digital platforms, the union indicated that LAP and the airlines were negotiating a mechanism to include these fees directly in the price of the air ticket.
However, he indicated that Lima Airport Partners withdrew from the negotiation table by refusing to assume the financial or administrative costs linked to the collection, despite the fact that the measure was beneficial to them. “This attempt to shift responsibilities to the airlines is unacceptable“, they indicate.
He added that this Tuesday, November 25, they will meet with the President of the Republic, José Jerí, to discuss this matter. “We ask the president to lead a definitive solution for the benefit of AIJCH users, the competitiveness of the country and Peruvian tourism”he demanded.
