Airlines for Europe (A4E), the lobby body that includes Aer Lingus parent IAG and Ryanair, has drawn up a list of priorities for Commissioner-designate Apostolos Tzitzikostas..
A4E’s alternative Mission Letter outlines four key focus areas for the new Transport Commissioner
- Reform Europe’s airspace
- Accelerate production of alternative technologies and fuels
- Tackle carbon and business leakage
- Complete the single aviation market
A4E notes that a recent report by Mario Draghi underscores the significance of transport in the EU; however, it highlights issues such as low competition and lack of integration that hinder capacity and connectivity in Europe.
A4E’s Managing Director emphasized the need for competitiveness in the aviation sector, stating that addressing the challenges outlined in the Mission Letter will enable European airlines to contribute to a sustainable transition while continuing to serve the travel needs ofms.
En-route Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays in 2023 were the second highest over the past 20 years and beat the figure for 2019 which had a higher level of air traffic. Total ATFM delays in 2023 reached 18.1m minutes which is the equivalent of 301,000 hours or 12,569 days worth of delay.
Rania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E), who, like Mr Tzitzikostas is from Greece, said: “Transport is fundamental to the success of the European Union we see today and countries like Greece are heavily reliant on air transport. Commissioner-designate Tzitzikostas has a growing in-tray; from reforming airspace to tackling carbon and business leakage, and completing the single aviation market. Competitiveness is the buzzword in Brussels right now, and it is central to enabling Europe’s airlines to contribute to the sustainable transition. By tackling the challenges outlined in our alternative Mission Letter, Commissioner-designate Tzitzikostas can help ensure airlines continue to serve Europe and play their part in flying towards a sustainable future.”
