The European Commission is today delivering on its ambitious Aviation Strategy for Europe by adopting a series of measures to further support open and connected aviation markets in the European Union and beyond.
1. Overview & expected benefits
Why is the Commission proposing new measures?
Aviation plays a crucial role in the EU. It drives economic growth, creates jobs, facilitates trade and allows people to travel. Today European aviation represents 26% of the world market, contributing €510 billion annually to Europe's Gross Domestic Product, and supporting 9.3 million jobs in Europe. With around 918 million passengers travelling by air in the European Union and more than 1.45 billion passengers departing or arriving at EU airports in 2015, aviation makes a vital contribution to the connectivity of the Union and to the daily lives of European citizens.
In December 2015, the Commission adopted the “Aviation Strategy for Europe” in order to ensure that aviation can continue to drive mobility, growth and job creation in the EU. The present initiatives are delivering on the Strategy.
What is the Commission proposing?
“Open and Connected Aviation” includes four initiatives. Two aim at maintaining EU leadership in international aviation:
- A legislative proposal for a Regulation on safeguarding competition in air transport;
- Interpretative guidelines on ownership and control of EU airlines.
Two other proposals are addressing limits to growth in European skies:
- Interpretative guidelines on public services obligations;
- Practices facilitating continuity of air traffic management.
They come together with a Communication from the Commission that introduces the initiatives and puts them in their wider context.
….
Continue to Commission’s full press release to find the answers to more questions related to the individuals and businesses.