AIT Dublin: European Commission wants global airlines but based in Europe

European Commission Director Air Aviation and International Transport Affairs Matthew Baldwin, speaking at CAPA's Airlines in Transition conference in Dublin, said (11-Apr-2013) the EC's future vision for airlines is to have "global companies in practice and form" flying worldwide but without global consolidation, saying "our interest is in keeping strong airlines based in Europe, flying out of European hubs". Mr Baldwin added: "We need strong EU companies. We can and should retain a tough competition regime. No apologies."