In a session on the impact of the new Commission on Europe’s aviation market James Sibley, EU policy analyst from DeHavilland EU, noted that transport was not listed among the priorities set down by the Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker.
Aviation journalists enjoyed a thought-provoking afternoon at the European Regions Airline Association’s (ERA’s) media briefing in London on 3 February. Interactive sessions covered ERA’s newly-launched strategy for regional aviation in Europe, the market challenges facing regional airlines, ERA’s work with the new European Commission to help define policies that support growth and development for regional airlines and the association’s commitment to finding a workable solution for the challenges that airlines are facing with the on-going revision of EU 261 and the implementation of the existing regulation.
At his introductory session Simon McNamara, director general ERA, explained: “We have a unique opportunity now at a pivotal time of change in European leadership to determine, with regulators, a new strategy for the future of European regional aviation. Our newly released strategy details, at a high level, our ambition for regional aviation in Europe and we are looking forward to promoting it in the interests of our members.”
ERA’s president, Boet Kreiken, then gave a heartfelt presentation on the many challenges that ERA member airlines face in increasingly tough market conditions, underlining the point that regional aviation is a lifeline for areas on the fringe of the continent and spurs economic development.
In a session on the impact of the new Commission on Europe’s aviation market James Sibley, EU policy analyst from DeHavilland EU, noted that transport was not listed among the priorities set down by the Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker. “If there is a vision for aviation, we don’t know it yet,” he noted. However, McNamara responded by commenting that this reinforces the fact that there is an opportunity to start afresh and shape future European airline policies for the better.
The session on the real cost of EU Regulation 261 focused on how it can be made more workable for airlines. “Recent court rulings are making implementation of EU 261 more and more difficult for operators,” said McNamara. “The airline industry has jointly put forward proposals to improve the clarity of EU 261 and we hope that in 2015 we will see a conclusion to the on-going revision of the regulation that benefits both consumers and operators.”
This sentiment underlined ERA’s main message at the media briefing – now is the time to define, with regulators, a clear strategy that supports regional aviation in Europe and that works for both consumers and the industry.
ERA Media Briefing Presentations
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
