The book under review addresses the complex topic of airport management following a line of inquiry to highlight the major changes that, within the context of Italian law, occurred as a result of the evolution of international, Community and national law. Written by Francesca Salerno, Professor of Maritime Law at the University of Naples “Parthenope”, the book is divided into four chapters, for a total of 245 pages of content. Two useful indexes, on author and content respectively, complete the book.
In Chapter 1 the Author explains the inexorable shift of the approach to airport management from a public law point of view to a private law point of view. The author also provides an overview of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC), the main body regulating aviation in Italy. The Ministry of Transport is the body having supervising authority for ENAC and general competence. In the final part of the Chapter, the Author deals with Ministerial Decree No. 521 dated 12 November 1997, which provides, under Article 2, the possibility to give, through concessions, the management of Italian airports, even if State-owned, to private companies. It should be pointed out that such companies can be participated in by a public entity, such as regional, provincial, municipal or other local public entities.
The relationship between ground-handling services and competition law is dealt with in Chapter 2. The topic is discussed under both competition law and liberalization rules. Chapter 3 looks at the evolution of the role of airports and its link with the air transport economy. For example, the Author discusses the legal implication, as well as describing the economic dynamics, of the “integration” between airports and low cost airlines. Indeed, it is a common perception that the fortunes of many low cost airlines and airports depend on each others success and ability to attract customers with low prices. Essential, in this respect, is the capacity to mantain costs as low as possible in the management of airports, considereing that they have an important impact on airlines. Interestingly, this is the longest Chapter of the book. The final fourth Chapter deals with the classic topic of airports’ liability related to handling activities. The Author deals with this topic providing a discussion of Italian rules as applied by courts and always recalling where appropiate the international legal texts, such as the Warsaw Convention for the Unification of certain rules relating to international carriage by air.
In conclusion, the book deals with an interesting topic which involves international, European and domestic law. It is clearly written and many references of doctrine and case law are provided throughout the book. It is certainly recommended to those involved with legal issues relating to airport management.
Riccardo Sciaudone
Head
Reviewed April 2014