Brian Simpson MEP, Chairman of the Committee for Transport and Tourism and Ad Rutten, President ACI EUROPE and COO of Schiphol Group.
The Policy Outlook publication entitled “An Outlook for Europe’s Airports – Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century” is the result of extensive work by ACI EUROPE, in collaboration with its members. It follows two reports on the crisis, issued by the association during 2009. However, the Policy Outlook is more all-encompassing and reflects the business transformation which European airports have undergone in recent years, primarily driven by increasing competition and changing attitudes from governments. Taking stock of the new economic fundamentals in the aftermath of the global economic crisis, the publication advocates a new way of looking at airports – treating them as businesses in their own right.
Zmago Skobir, CEO, Aerodrom Ljubljana, Juri Meznarsic, Aerodrom Ljubljana, Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director Air Transport, European Commission and Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI EUROPE.
The publication calls upon the European institutions to proactively address the 4 major challenges that Europe’s airports are facing today, tomorrow and in the decades to come: Airport Capacity, the Environment, Global Connectivity and Aviation Security. With this long-term view at its core, the Policy Outlook is set to become a reference publication for the years ahead.
Mr Simpson commented “I welcome ACI EUROPE’s Policy Outlook and the contribution it makes to the debate on the future of EU airports which is inextricably linked to the future of the aviation sector more generally.” Also speaking at the event, Ad Rutten, President of ACI EUROPE and COO of Schiphol Group, said “The ability of the European Union to address these 4 key challenges will essentially define how European airports, and more generally European aviation, will look like in the next 20 years – and what benefits we can bring to society through enhanced and more efficient mobility.”
He added “Now is the opportune moment. With the EU institutions currently considering the future direction of the European transport policy, we are making constructive proposals and stand ready to play our part.”
(Left) Jacqueline Foster MEP and David McMillan, Director General, EUROCONTROL. (Right) Alastair Muir, NATS and Nic Nilsen, CEO, Oslo Airport.
Brian Simpson MEP, Jules Kneepkens, Director of Rulemaking, EASA and Thilo Schmidt, EASA.
The new European Commission is expected to reconsider the policy directions for the development of the EU Transport Policy in the years to come. This will be formalised by the adoption before the end of 2010 of a ‘White Paper for the Future of Transport Policy in the EU’, dealing with all modes of Transport and clarifying the contributions of the Transport sector to the overall policy directions set for the European Union. In this regard, the ACI EUROPE Policy Outlook forms a solid foundation for engaging with the new European Commission and the new European Parliament, to promote better recognition of the unique economic and social contribution that airports – beyond aviation – are making to European society.
Ines Alaya Sender MEP, Jean-Eric Paquet, Acting Director of TEN-T & Smart Transport, European Commission and Morgan Foulkes, Director of Policy, ACI EUROPE.
Dr Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport, Ismail Ertug MEP and Vanessa Buhl, Munich Airport.
ACI EUROPE contends that with European air traffic still expected to double by 2030, Europe’s airports need to be empowered to finance and develop their facilities in a timely manner. Amongst other things, this means that the EU must be unambiguous about reconciling aviation growth with its ambitious environmental objectives.
Better connectivity is also crucial to the future of Europe and further aviation liberalisation is needed quickly with the US, the EU’s neighbouring countries and its main trading countries. Finally, as evidenced by the events of 25 December 2009, a total re-think of the philosophy, structure and financing of Europe’s aviation security system is now overdue.
