Sky & Space Intergroup calls on European Commission to declare 2022 European Year of Aviation

On 12 March, members of the European Parliament's Sky & Space Intergroup, which brings together 96 MEPs from across political groups, submitted a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Adina Vălean inviting the European Commission to declare 2022 as European Year of Aviation. "In these difficult times people can hardly go to an airport and catch a flight. A desolating image, empty airports - with their closed shops - are an emblematic portrait of this very challenging period," the MEPs write. Catching a flight will then be the symbol of life that goes back to its normality, after defeating COVID19. "People will undoubtedly start flying again, no matter their destination, no matter the budget at their disposal. Thanks to the surge in travelling, the aviation sector will bounce back and recover, generating a significant positive spill over on the tourism sector, another pillar of the EU economy, and stimulate economic growth and employment."