PURPOSE: to present a new aviation strategy for
Europe.
BACKGROUND: aviation is a strong driver of economic
growth, jobs, trade and mobility for the European Union and it
plays a crucial role in the EU economy. The sector directly
employs between 1.4 million and 2 million people and overall
supports between 4.83 million and contributes EUR 110
billion to the EU economy.
The availability of direct intercontinental flights is
effectively a major determinant in the location choices of large
firms headquarters in Europe:
- a 10% increase in the supply of intercontinental
flights results in a 4% increase in the number of headquarters of
large firms;
- a 10% increase of departing passengers in a
metropolitan region increases local employment in the services
sector by 1%.
Over the last 20 years, the EU's liberalisation of the
internal market for air services and the substantial growth of
demand in air transport within the EU and worldwide, have resulted
in the significant development of the European aviation
sector.
Aviation traffic in Europe is predicted to reach
14.4 million flights in 2035, 50% more than in
2012.
As aviation's contribution to the overall performance
of the EU economy and its global presence is so significant, it is
critical that the EU aviation sector remains competitive, maintains
its leadership position and is able to grow.
CONTENT: the aim of this Aviation Strategy is to
strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the entire EU
air transport value network. The Commission has therefore
identified three key priorities:
(1) Tapping into growth markets: European aviation is facing new competitive
challenges in a rapidly evolving global market, in particular as a
result of a shift of economic growth to the East. With an annual
growth forecast of 6%, scheduled passenger traffic in the Asia
Pacific region is likely to grow faster than in other regions until
2034 when it will account for 40% of world air traffic.
By adopting an ambitious external aviation policy
through the negotiation of comprehensive aviation
agreements, with a clear focus on growth markets, the EU can
contribute to improving market access and investment opportunities
for European aviation in important overseas markets.
Furthermore, in order to support worldwide trade in
aircraft and related products, the EU should also expand the
range of bilateral aviation safety agreements aimed at
achieving mutual recognition of safety certification
standards.
The Commission will also negotiate effective fair
competition provisions in the context of the negotiation of EU
comprehensive air transport agreements and consider measures to
address unfair practices from third countries and third country
operators.
(2) Tackling limits to growth both in the air and on
the ground: the estimated costs of
the EU's fragmented airspace represent at least EUR 5 billion a
year. The main challenge for the growth of European aviation is to
reduce the capacity and efficiency constraints, which are
seriously impeding the European aviation sector's ability to grow
sustainably, compete internationally, and which are causing
congestion and delays and raising costs.
In 2035, according to Eurocontrol, European airports
will be unable to accommodate some 2 million flights due to
capacity shortages. The estimated economic cost of being unable to
accommodate demand has been estimated at 434 000-818 000 jobs
foregone by 2035 and an annual loss in GDP of between EUR 28
billion and 52 billion at EU level.
It is for this reason that the strategy insisted on
the need to:
- complete the Single European Sky, through the adoption of the Single European Sky (SES2+)
proposals;
- make best use of existing capacity and plan well in
advance to absorb the forecasted future needs;
- swiftly adopt the revised Slot
Regulation in order to enable the optimal use of the busiest
airports;
- enhance the availability of highly performing,
competitive airport services, including runways, passenger
terminals and ground handling and the service quality experience of
passengers;
- improve connectivity in Europe, identify any
shortcomings and the appropriate measures to be taken.
(3) Maintaining high EU safety and security
standards: to achieve this, the
Commission aims to introduce a risk and performance based
approach to safety regulation.
The strategy insisted on the need to:
- integrate new business models and emerging technologies, such as electric engines or
drones;
- abolish rules and procedures that add time,
burden and cost but do not contribute to safety ;
- put in place a framework for the pooling and
sharing of technical resources between the national authorities
and the European Aviation Safety Agency;
- launch an in-depth evaluation of the existing
legislation on the imposition of operating
bans and on rules on aviation
accident investigation;
- seek new ways to alleviate the burden of security
checks on passengers, notably through the use of new technology
and by applying a risk-based approach in full respect of
fundamental rights.
The Commission seeks to propose a revised Basic
Regulation for common rules in the field of civil aviation
safety, replacing the current Regulation (EC) No
216/2008.
In this context, the EU should also act in the
following areas:
Reinforcing the social agenda and creating high
quality jobs in aviation: (i)
maintain leadership in aviation through a highly educated,
qualified and experienced workforce; (ii) develop new skills and
competences; (iii) better understand the new business and
employment models that have emerged, such as the multiplication of
operational bases, the recruitment of air crews through agencies,
new atypical forms of employment or pay-to-fly schemes for flight
crew; (iv) bring clarity on the applicable labour law; (v) promote
an active and comprehensive social dialogue.
Protecting passengers' rights: the legislative process to adopt the revision
of Regulation 261/2004 on air passengers' rights in case of
denied boarding, long delays and cancellations is still on going in
2015. The Commission urges European Parliament and the Council of
the EU to adopt swiftly the revisions proposed.
Embracing a new era through innovation and digital
technologies: the deployment and
optimisation of information and communications technologies are
also particularly relevant for airport capacity, performance and
quality of service. Moreover, as regards unleashing the full
potential of drones, it is necessary for a risk-based framework to
be put in place rapidly. This framework will ensure their safe use
in civil airspace and create legal certainty for the
industry.
Contributing to a forward-looking Climate Change
Policy: the EU, through its Member
States acting within the framework of ICAO, pursues a robust Global
Market Based Mechanism to achieve carbon neutral growth from
2020 to be reviewed over time as appropriate, and to be made
operational from 2020, as well as the adoption of a first CO2
standard for aircraft.
Investing in aviation research: the Commission is convinced that appropriate private
and public investments into technology and innovation will secure
Europes leading role in international aviation. The European
Union has planned to invest EUR 430 million each year, until 2020,
in the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project. It
has been estimated that the timely deployment of SESAR solutions
can potentially result in the creation of over 300 000 new
jobs.