The final day of the European Regions Airline Association General Assembly discussed regulatory burdens on regional carriers including passenger rights and EU mandates for lower-emission aircraft by 2035.
The event at the Estoril Congress Centre in Portugal drew 54 airline members and 220 businesses in attendance over three days and reaffirmed commitments to decarbonisation targets while challenging the pace of regulatory implementation.
Regional airlines operate 1,800 aircraft on 2,000 routes carrying 100m passengers annually and contribute €15bn to the economy.
The ReFuelEU initiative requires 2pc sustainable aviation fuel in 2025 rising to 70 per cent by 2050 with initial costs up to €50m per small operator. ERA released a study titled Cutting emissions without cutting connections: How to make ReFuelEU work for all of Europe’s airlines” on how to adapt ReFuelEU for Europe’s regions.
ERA advocates for regional aviation’s role in economic and social development across Europe.
