The joint position on Open Skies by ACI EUROPE and the European Travel Commission (ETC – representing National Tourism Organisations) underlines the need to support connectivity by expanding Open Skies beyond Europe.
Open Skies and connectivity were high on the agenda at the ACI EUROPE General Assembly, Congress & Exhibition in June in Prague, not only because there was a special session dedicated to the subject, but also because both topics were the heart of Mr. Arnaud Feist’s speech (outgoing President of ACI EUROPE & CEO Brussels Airport Company).
Following ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec’s presentation on the state of the industry, Arnaud Feist took the stage to present the priorities and views of the airport industry on the new Aviation Strategy the European Commission is currently working on.
Mr. Feist also announced the release of a joint position on Open Skies by ACI EUROPE and the European Travel Commission (ETC – representing National Tourism Organisations). This position underlines the need to support connectivity by expanding Open Skies beyond Europe. Addressing the on-going public debate on the expansion of the Gulf airlines in Europe and the US, Feist was very clear: “Open Skies and fair competition need to go hand in hand. But Europe’s airports and Tourism Organisations do not regard the public financing of airport infrastructure, start-up aid for airlines and more favourable fiscal regimes as necessarily involving unfair competition – but rather as legitimate economic development policy choices, made by the Gulf States.”
Referring to the position the European airlines attacking their Gulf competitors, he added “These (European) airlines are our long time partners. For many of us, their fate is also our fate. They are right in saying that the expansion of the Gulf airlines and of the Gulf airports is a fierce challenge for European aviation. But the issues they raise and the remedies they propose are the wrong ones. This is not so much about how the Gulf States are nurturing their aviation sector and nor should it be about closing our market. Rather, this is primarily about how Europe is not supporting its own aviation sector.”
Addressing the EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc, who was present at the event, Feist urged that the forthcoming aviation strategy include Open Skies and that connectivity & consumers should be the focus of the strategy. In addition to this joint position, ACI EUROPE and the ETC also signed a cooperation agreement to promote air connectivity and international arrivals in Europe.
European Airports & Tourism Organisations – Together on Open Skies: http://bit.ly/1FEEdFW.
