- ACI EUROPE submitted response to public consultation.
- Proposal sets regime for investment and operating aid.
- Operating aid limitation spans 5 years for certain airports.
- Investment aid ends above 3m passengers.
- Start up aid for new airline routes faces removal.
ACI EUROPE has responded to the public consultation on proposed new State aid rules for aviation. The organisation calls on the European Commission to reconsider key aspects of the draft guidelines. The rules cover investment and operating aid to airports across Europe.
ACI EUROPE identifies three critical elements for urgent review including a 5 year limitation on operating aid for airports with 500000 to 1m passengers per annum. The proposal ends investment aid for airports with more than 3m passengers and removes start up aid for airlines on new routes. Regional airports face challenges from diseconomies of scale seasonal traffic and regulatory obligations.
ACI EUROPE represents over 600 airports in 55 countries that handle 95pc of commercial air traffic in Europe.
Olivier Jankovec shared “By setting out the applicable regime for both investment and operating aid to airports the new guidelines will largely shape air connectivity of our regions for years to come. Regional airports are so much more than simply transport infrastructure.”
