Association of European Airlines’ members: 4.7% more long haul seats this summer
26-Mar-2013 The summer timetable season, which will start at the end of this week, will see the 32 members of the Association of European Airlines expanding their long haul production by 4.7%, extending their reach to 234 destinations.
While their intra-European activity will see a slight reduction of 0.9%, AEA members will significantly increase their intercontinental operations during summer 2013. According to the first capacity data indications for the April-October timetable, seat on offer to intercontinental destinations will be 4.7% up on last year. Seven additional long-haul points will be linked with Europe, while some carriers will also increase frequencies or operate larger aircraft on existing routes. These developments are indicative of an emerging strategy amongst Europe's major network airlines, consolidating and rationalising their intra-European activity in the face of challenging economic conditions within their home markets, but continuing to invest in long haul connections. In total, the AEA member airlines offer their clients a choice of 561 destinations this summer.
"These figures for summer 2013 once again highlight the importance of the AEA carriers in connecting Europe with other parts of the world", says acting AEA's Secretary General Athar Husain Khan. "Our airlines are committed to further developing their presence on the world map but they need a coherent external aviation policy which strengthens European airlines and hubs".
In its recent report on 'Sustainable European Aviation', drafted in cooperation with strategic partner, Seabury, AEA presents a roadmap for such a policy.
The key findings of the report are being presented today by Mr Husain Khan during the workshop on 'Air services agreements concluded by the EU' organised by the Transport and Tourism Committee of the European Parliament.