Wednesday, March 20, 2024
17 top EU airlines urge for action on sustainable flights to keep globally competitive, stressing eco-innovation and efficiency at the Airlines for Europe Summit.
Today, a coalition of 17 premier European airline companies is set to appeal to legislators for decisive commitments as they navigate through an era of innovation aimed at achieving more eco-friendly and efficient aviation operations. They will stress the importance of maintaining the international competitiveness of European carriers to ensure their ongoing substantial contributions to the continent’s economic growth, connectivity, commerce, and employment.
At the Airlines for Europe (A4E) Summit taking place in Brussels, these aviation leaders will spotlight the essential modifications required for the upcoming EU legislative period. These adjustments are crucial for facilitating the sector’s evolution and diminishing the current bureaucratic hurdles.
In a crucial year of elections, the carriers, representing more than 80% of the continent’s air traffic, will urge the European Union and the transport ministers of its member states to embrace reforms in air space management. This is in response to the recent agreement on the Single European Sky initiative, which did not achieve the anticipated extent of reform necessary to cut down delays and carbon output.
Moreover, A4E participants will reveal their commitment to a vision dubbed ‘Flying for Our Future,’ promising to mold an industry that is interconnected, reliable, contemporary, eco-conscious, and universally accessible.
Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director for Airlines for Europe said:
“The EU thrives on the ability of people and goods to seamlessly move around the continent, and we must protect the benefits that this provides.”
“The next few years provide a real opportunity for change and today we are setting out how we want to future-proof flying and have also unveiled our commitment to Europeans.”
“We are today making a Pledge to improve the future of flying but can only do this if policymakers make the vital changes to support our decarbonisation efforts, providing real airspace reform, ensuring our sector remains competitive and completing a true single aviation market.”
Central to A4E’s agenda is the ambition for competitive decarbonization. With billions being invested this decade into pioneering technologies, including new planes, engine systems, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), there’s a call for governmental backing for SAFs and technologies aimed at zero-emission aircraft. Effective industrial strategies and precise financial support from both EU bodies and national governments will play a critical role, as will partnership among airlines and other relevant entities like fuel suppliers, aircraft manufacturers, air navigation service organizations, and airport authorities.
To stay ahead in global competitiveness, crucial for positioning Europe at the forefront of the aviation sector’s shift to net-zero emissions, support for cost-effective and dependable local SAF production is imperative, especially given the intense international competition.
A4E intends to spearhead initiatives with various stakeholders, including national governments, air navigation service entities, civilian airspace users, and military agencies, to facilitate significant advancements towards a unified and more efficient European airspace. They will also advocate for a continent-wide passenger rights framework to mitigate the impacts of industrial actions, which severely disrupt air travel, affecting over 20 million travelers in 2023.
Furthermore, airlines will reaffirm their pledge to ensure the accessibility of aviation to everyone, enabling all Europeans to benefit from the advantages of air travel. A4E commits to undertaking crucial measures for these advancements and seeks assurance from policymakers to implement the necessary changes to safeguard the future of aviation.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
