Forecasts indicate that increasingly congested airports in Europe will not be able to meet part of the air traffic demand in the coming years…
Forecasts indicate that increasingly congested airports in Europe will not be able to meet part of the air traffic demand in the coming years. Therefore the European Commission is exploring possible measures to address the current and future airport capacity shortages. In this context, it has launched a Consultation Paper on Airport capacity, efficiency and safety addressed to airlines, airports, air navigation providers and all other stakeholders of the air transport industry. We are working on Air Traffic Management and the Single European Sky to increase capacity in the sky. But if we do not address airport problems, this effort would be meaningless, said Vice-President Jacques Barrot, responsible for Transport. He added that we should both plan the construction of new airports, and make every effort to better utilise the existing infrastructure.
Already in its 2001 White Paper Transport Policy for 2010 the Commission highlighted the core problems arising form the persistent growth of the air transport sector: the congestion of the European skies causing delays and the chronic shortages of airport runway, taxiway and terminal capacity on the ground. The Single European Sky Initiative adopted in March 2004 will bring about the re-organisation of the upper airspace over Europe towards more efficient and integrated structures.
However, there is still insufficient take-off and landing capacity. At congested hub airports, shortages of runway capacity are a pressing problem that has negative consequences for the global competitiveness of European airlines. A recent study revealed that if demand grows just below the current rate, airports will be severely constrained in 2025. By 2025 more than 60 airports will be congested and the top 20 airports will be saturated at least 8-10 hrs per day. This is because traffic demand will have increased by factor 2.5 from its 2003 level. And despite a 60% increase in airport capacity in the airport network, only twice the volume of the 2003 traffic will be satisfied and demand corresponding to 3.7 million flights per year (17%) will not take place.
The consultation encourages the implementation of best practices, state of the art procedures and technologies. The Commission believes that, in close cooperation with the stakeholders of the aviation sector and the Member States, the European Union may be able to facilitate and contribute to solutions in four areas:
- Improving air/rail intermodality, encouraging the use of rail alternatives and improving airport access;
- Promoting better use of airports spare capacity by improving procedures and slot efficiency and by disseminating best practices;
- Introducing new technologies and defining a common framework for increasing airport safety;
- Making better use of spare capacity at neighbouring facilities or in the airport network as a whole.
This consultation looks to a better use of airport capacity. It should be seen in connection with the adoption by the Commission on 6 September of guidelines on aid to regional airports, one objective of which is to limit air congestion through balanced regional development.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
