In European airports Buy water and food. One has become real Luxury. According to a survey, a bottle of water can cost up to 9 euros, while a simple sandwich costs around 16.5 euros. Prices, significantly above the average inflation rate, are a common reality in many countries. European ports And they mainly affect essential goods, causing dissatisfaction and hardship among passengers.
The problem seems to be related not only to the operating costs of the airports, but also to the increase in fares imposed by the airport management companies, while the EU seems powerless in the face of this trend. is With the continuous increase in passenger flow, the food and beverage market represents a Profitable sector which is independent of consumer protection laws.
Exorbitant food prices at airports:
At European airports i Prices Essential foods have reached record levels. Oh Water bottle On average, half a liter is consumed. 5-6 euros Among the main European airports, with a peak of 9 euros At Istanbul Airport, while in Italy, prices fluctuate, although less. 1.8 and 2.8 euros.
Even me Panini Their cost is disproportionate: a simple sandwich can reach i. 16.5 euros For espresso coffee in Istanbul terminals, Italy is still the cheapest, with prices around 2 eurosWhile at other European airports you can reach i. 6 euros for an espresso.
| Product | Price in Italy (Euro) | Maximum price in Europe (Euro) |
|---|---|---|
| Water (0.5 L) | 1,8 – 2,8 | 9 |
| Espresso coffee | 1,5 – 2,5 | 6 |
| A simple sandwich | 7 – 10 | 16,5 |
| Stuffed Croissants | 3 – 5,5 | 16,5 |
i Expenses This has been revealed by a recent survey conducted for Corrie della Sierra and included Italian and European airports, analyzing the data compared to those emerging from US airports.
Airport Food and Beverage: A Billion Dollar Business
There is a pattern behind the increase business The objective is to maximize the profit from commercial activities within the airports.
In 2023, the food and beverage sector alone accounted for approx 11 billion euros In more than 500 European airports, with average spend 10 euros per passenger. In Italy, Aeroporti di Roma, which manages Fiumicino and Ciampino, reports average costs. 6.8 euros per passenger Beginning, increase compared to previous years.
SEA, the management company of Malpensa and Linate airports, recorded revenue. 29.56 million euros From the food and beverage sector, in comparison 23.25 million 2022, while Sacbo, which manages the Bergamo-Orio al Serio airport, reported turnover 14.2 million euroswith an increase of 34.1% over last year.
Airport management companies rely on two main revenue channels: “aviation” and “non-aviation” activities. Aviation activities include:
- Landing and take-off rights of aircraft
- Boarding taxes and fees for use of infrastructure and security
“Non-aviation” activities, however, include all commercial operations not directly related to air traffic, such as duty-free, shops and restaurants. Many companies rent commercial space to third parties, such as large international food and beverage groups, and receive income through both rent and a percentage of sales, which averages between 3% and 4%.
Why are the prices so high?
But what do high costs depend on? They are also due to increased operating costs to maintain post-9/11 security standards, but which prevent passengers from carrying more than 100ml of liquid and force them to purchase water and beverages inside the terminal. do
The price increases appear to outweigh operating costs, especially considering that many airports have also made “moral appeasement” efforts to keep prices of essential products such as water and coffee low. , but to no avail. Airports Council International-Europe had also tried to make recommendations. Maximum limit of 1 euro per bottlebut then to no avail.
To give a concrete example: essential good equality,The waternow facing expenses. Record. Additionally, a series of techniques force travelers to spend more. Many international airport terminals have hidden half-liter bottles to make room for 0.75-liter bottles, which cost more. The average price of a bottle of water at Istanbul Airport is 6 euros with a peak of 9 euros, which is far from the average urban price. 80 cents.
Another example of fraud management can be seen. Greecewhere the government a Maximum value 60 cents For a half-litre water bottle, so much so that bottles of that size have been replaced by 0.75 litres, so it is not subject to regulation.
The paradox at this point is that water and food are often cheaper to buy on board. For example, a half-liter bottle of water costs €3 on Ryanair and €3.50 on EasyJet, while a simple sandwich costs €6. At Brussels Airlines, a half-liter bottle costs 3.3 euros, which is considerably less than in major European airports.
The thread is tight. If the airport shops do not accommodate the traveler, it is very likely that the traveler will end up walking between the shelves while waiting for the flight.
