ACI Europe: Europe on course for becoming aviation-disabled

ACI EUROPE president and London City Airport CEO Declan Collier stated (21-Jun-2012) Europe is on course for becoming "aviation-disabled". Reviewing the current trading conditions for Europe's airports, Mr Collier noted, "this was not just another recession in the usual aviation industry cycle of boom or bust. This is about the impact of structural shifts in the global and European economy and their impact on aviation". "In the same way as it is not business as usual for our industry, it cannot be business as usual for policy makers and regulators. Yet, in terms of policy making, no sense of the urgent need for changer is apparent. The disconnect between the economic reality we are now facing and where policy making keeps focusing is worrying," he said. Mr Collier noted the review of EU state aid guidelines for the aviation sector and expressed concerns as regards the fact that the European Commission wants to curb public financing of airport infrastructure. He also noted while airport competition is intensifying and there is a need to ensure a level playing field with regard to start-up aid given to airlines, the financing of airport infrastructure needs to be considered in a wider context including the global nature of competition among airports. [more - original PR]

ACI EUROPE: "Taken together with national aviation taxes, the recent night flight bans in Germany and the on-going paralysis of airport policy in the UK, Europe is on course to becoming aviation-disabled, failing to capitalise on a sector that is a formidable source of economic growth...What should be blindingly obvious is that there is every reason to include airports and aviation in Europe's growth strategy. There is not a single one not to. This requires a visible reset of aviation policy - based on a system partnership between Governments, regulators and our industry," Declan Collier, president. Source: Company statement, 21-Jun-2012.