IATA: Another blow to European competitiveness, air traffic management improvement off course
IATA warned (10-Oct-2011) European Member States are falling behind in their commitments to improve Europe's air traffic management. According to the latest independent Performance Review Body (PRB) report and the draft recommendations from the European Commission, states are falling behind in their legislated commitments to deliver improvements in operational, financial and environmental efficiency. According to IATA, the PRB report shows that 21 of 29 European states failed to make adequate contributions to the cost-efficiency target. The 10 air navigation service providers (ANSPs) who are contributing least to the cost reduction targets are: Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany, Spain (continental), UK, Czech Republic and Finland. The total shortfall is 2.4%, which will equate to a total cost of EUR256 million of unrealised savings for 2012-2014. The PRB's report further noted that six performance plans (Austria, Greece, Poland, Spain, UK, and FABEC - covering Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland) do not make adequate contributions to meeting the EU-wide capacity target. [more - original PR]
IATA: "Everybody agrees that high costs, delays, environmental waste and circuitous routings are not acceptable. But the problems are not going to fix themselves. Airlines have invested in aircraft and technology to operate at the highest levels of efficiency - often times ahead of what ANSPs are capable of. And we are ready to help drive efficiencies further. But it is the responsibility of states to ensure that their air navigation service providers are delivering what is needed...The real story is with the 'Big Five' ANSPs - Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain. Being responsible for 54% of the costs of air navigation services in Europe, the success of the performance scheme is dependant on these states meeting their share of the required cost reductions with no shortfall," Tony Tyler, director general and CEO. Source: IATA, 10-Oct-2011.