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Policy & Legislation Articles
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December, 2011World Business Partners & Airports: Engaging for Mutual Benefit
The ACI World Business Partner (WBP) programme was rebooted at the beginning of 2010, with coordination moving from ACI WORLD to each of the ACI regions. ACI EUROPE has made gains in reconnecting with former WBPs and broadening the membership of the programme, all the while seeking to improve the value it offers members. Donagh Cagney & Ross Falconer report.
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December, 2011A unified transport network: European Commission proposes revision of TEN-T guidelines
On 19 October, the European Commission adopted a proposal to transform the existing patchwork of European roads, railways, airports and canals into a new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The new policy follows a major two-year consultation involving Member States, regions and stakeholders, and establishes a Core Transport Network to be established by 2030. Ross Falconer reports.
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December, 2011EU and Russia – is liberalisation finally within reach?
An EU-Russia Action Plan proposed in 2006 promised cooperation on safety, security and training, a generic commitment to liberalisation of market access as well as access for Russian aviation to EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and EIB (European Investment Bank) financing facilities. However, some unresolved issues, including the EU designation clause and Siberian over-flight issue, have prevented its implementation.The recent EU-Russia Aviation Summit was the opportunity to renew the motivation for closer relations. Robert O’Meara & Ross Falconer report.
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December, 2011Prelude to the Airport Package: What’s in the box?
Early this year, EC Vice President in charge of Transport Siim Kallas, announced that he would release an ‘Airport Package’ of regulatory measures concerning airports in the EU. ACI EUROPE has been tracking this development with keen interest since the announcement and all is due to be revealed before the end of the year. Robert O’Meara reports.
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December, 2011Water Management Workshop
The management and treatment of water within the environs of airports remains an important topic, and one that is of particular concern to the communities within which individual airports operate. In light of this, ACI EUROPE organised a free workshop on the subject at its Brussels headquarters on 15 September. The workshop addressed both the issue of water quality and the fact that water is a scarce resource.
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October, 2011ACI EUROPE and SESAR JU sign cooperation agreement
The SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) programme aims to provide the operational and technological solution to the challenges facing European air traffic growth. At the 21st ACI EUROPE Annual Congress, which took place in Lisbon in June, the SESAR Joint Undertaking, signed a cooperation agreement with ACI EUROPE to engage its technical expertise in the programme. Ross Falconer reports.
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October, 2011Further liberalisation essential to ensure Europe’s relevance
At this year’s ACI EUROPE Annual Congress in June, the trade body launched a campaign on aviation liberalisation, with the release of a special publication entitled ‘Expanding Europe’s Aviation Market – Prerequisite for Global Relevance’. It highlights the challenges and opportunities facing European aviation, as well as identifying key priorities for EU aviation policy. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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October, 2011Providing a high-level service to PRMs
Since the introduction of EU Regulation 1107/2006 in July 2008, a spotlight has been cast on the rights of passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs). In April this year, the European Commission released its latest report on the functioning and effectiveness of the Regulation. Ryan Ghee reports.
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October, 2011Hands off our holiday, Mr Taxman!
The UK Chancellor, Rt Hon George Osborne MP, announced in his 2011 Budget that Air Passenger Duty (APD) would be frozen in 2011/12, but would be increased by double inflation in 2012/13. A campaign, backed by the UK Airport Operators Association (AOA), was launched in early-July in an effort to persuade the Chancellor to abandon the planned rise. Ross Falconer & Donagh Cagney report.
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October, 2011ACI EUROPE launches new website
At this year’s ACI EUROPE Annual Assembly, Congress & Exhibition in Lisbon, Director General Olivier Jankovec unveiled the trade association’s brand new website, by showing a screenshot of the homepage, at the end of his ‘State of the Industry’ keynote presentation.
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October, 2011ACI EUROPE Annual Assembly: New economic and operational realities
The 21st ACI EUROPE Annual Assembly, Congress and Exhibition, this year hosted by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, took place in Lisbon from 15 to 17 June. The event featured a broad range of high-level speakers, addressing the central theme of ‘Overcoming new economic and operational realities, while improving the passenger experience’. Ross Falconer reports.
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October, 2011Harmonising the response to volcanic ash crises
The eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano in May resulted in the activation of the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC) by the European Commission and EUROCONTROL for the first time. Following the positive impact of this inaugural activation, Ryan Ghee explores how, along with the adoption of new technology, the EACCC can help to lessen the impact of future crisis situations.
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June, 2011Transport 2050: Infrastructure drives mobility
The European Commission recently published its ‘Roadmap for the Future of Transport 2050’ – a comprehensive strategy for a competitive transport system, with the ambitious aim of creating a Single European Transport Area. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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June, 2011Airports and social media: An ACI EUROPE report
More and more of Europe’s airports are putting social media at the heart of their communications strategies as they respond to new competitive realities, but the manner in which social media is employed differs from airport to airport. Donagh Cagney looks at a newly-published ACI EUROPE report which explores this emerging trend.
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June, 2011
Grimsvötn eruption shows lessons learned
Just over one year on from the Eyjafjallajökull eruption in April 2010, a second Icelandic volcanic shock occurred on 21 May with the eruption of the Grimsvötn volcano. A swift response, including activation of the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC) by the European Commission and EUROCONTROL, ensured that the impact was significantly less than the Eyjafjallajökull eruption. Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara report.
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June, 2011ACI World relocates to Montréal
Following the decision by the ACI World Governing Board announced last year, ACI World has marked this year’s 20th anniversary of Airports Council International (ACI) by moving to its new offices in Montréal, to afford the global interests of ACI a stronger presence on ICAO’s home ground.
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June, 2011Regional airports conference & exhibition focuses on threats and opportunities
ACI EUROPE’s Regional Airports’ Forum 4th Annual Conference and Exhibition took place on 9-11 May just outside Cagliari, Sardinia. Kindly hosted by Cagliari Airport, and co-located with Routes Europe, the event brought together 150 delegates from regional airports, airlines, local and national authorities, the European Commission (EC) and ACI EUROPE World Business Partners, under the theme ‘Enhancing the competitive position of regional airports – key to survival and development’.
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June, 2011Aerodrome safety: implementing rules on a good path
Following its mandate by the European legislator, the preparation of the implementing rules (IR) for aerodrome safety is running at full speed. Formal EASA Rulemaking Groups for this area cover authority and organisation requirements (ADR.001), aerodrome operations (ADR.002) and aerodrome design (ADR.003). These groups are composed of and chaired by experts chosen from amongst national authorities and the airport industry. Since July 2010 six large three-day meetings of all groups and several intermediate meetings have taken place. The Rulemaking Groups will deliver the core material, the implementing rules (IRs, ‘hard law’) and certification specifications (CSs, ‘soft law’) – for their respective areas by the end of July 2011. It will also be endeavoured to provide as much of the necessary Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMCs) and Guidance Material (GM) in July.
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April, 2011EC Vice President Kallas and Europe’s airports discuss 2010 and the future
As is customary, the European Commissioner for transport attended the January meeting of ACI EUROPE’s Board. In the wake of a tumultuous 2010, the meeting was a welcome opportunity for Europe’s airports to discuss a range of issues and challenges with EC Vice President Siim Kallas. Report by Ross Falconer & Robert O’Meara.
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April, 2011Enhancing the air travel experience for PRMs
As the European Commission prepares a report on the effectiveness of EU Regulation 1107/2006 – concerning the rights of disabled persons and passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) when travelling by air – Ryan Ghee explores the impact of the Regulation to date and how it can be further improved.
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