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A call has gone out for the European Commission’s Aviation Strategy – published last month – to be strengthened.
A group of airspace users under the umbrella of the Brussels- based International Air Carrier Association urged action from the new Dutch presidency ahead of the EU aviation summit.
The group of six associations said: “The EC’s Aviation Strategy needs to be strengthened with more concrete and ambitious deliverables.
“This is a unique opportunity to improve the Strategy and ensure it delivers a set of concrete initiatives that will bolster our industry and improve its competitiveness.
“We count on the Dutch presidency to give the Strategy the priority it deserves and, as an industry, we are ready to advise and support the presidency in its work.”
The associations say more work is needed to drive down external costs imposed on airlines, improve the environmental performance of inefficient European air traffic control, deliver new infrastructure, as well as controlling monopolistic infrastructure providers and reducing the regulatory burden.
The demands were laid out at the same time as five of Europe’s most powerful airlines created a new association, Airlines for Europe (A4E), to lobby for lower airport charges, the removal of unreasonable taxes and a plan to avert disruption during air traffic control strikes.