Categories
Policy & Legislation Articles
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April, 2013
New LAGs legislation enters into force
The rules on the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs), and the efforts to remove those restrictions, have been comprehensively reported in Airport Business. A phased approach to lifting the LAGs restrictions will begin in January 2014, following the publication in the Official Journal of the European Union on 20 March of the required legislation. Ross Falconer reports.
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April, 2013
Gathering industry stakeholders & EU institutions together
The ACI EUROPE annual New Year cocktail reception took place on the 22nd January in the European Parliament (EP), hosted by members of the EP’s Committee on Transport and Tourism, Mr. Jim Higgins MEP (Ireland) and Ms Inés Ayala Sender MEP (Spain).
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April, 2013
European Commission proposes revised Air Passenger Rights regulations
Air Passenger Rights is a subject that has gained increasing prominence in recent years, following the volcanic shocks of 2010 and 2011, and unforeseen severe weather conditions impacting on flights. The European Commission has published its proposal for revision of the Air Passenger Rights regulations.Ross Falconer reports.
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November, 2012
Come fly with me
Intra-European route liberalisation introduced by the EU in the mid-1990s transformed the business, experience and performance of aviation throughout the continent. Following successful aviation liberalisation beyond the EU, with the US and Canada as well as countries like Morocco over the last 10 years, now the European Commission is looking at the next stage of its ambitious External Aviation Policy. Report by Elliot Bailey.
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November, 2012
Airport Package – will EP vote ‘return to sender’?
This time last year the European Commission launched its Airport Package, proposing a trio of legislation on airport slots, ground handling and aviation noise. The emphasis at launch was squarely on ‘Quality and Capacity at Airports’, so what has the past 12 months of reporting and debate between the European Parliament, the Council and industry stakeholders yielded? Elliot Bailey reports.
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October, 2012
EC decides to revise deadline for removal of LAGs restrictions
Regular readers of Airport Business will know that security and in particular, the rules concerning the carriage of liquids, aerosols and gels make regular appearances in this magazine. Airports, passengers, security equipment manufacturers and EU institutions are all watchful of this issue, which has such a profound effect on the passenger experience. Robert O’Meara reports on the latest developments.
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June, 2012
ACI EUROPE meets Cypriot Authorities
In the run-up to the Cypriot Presidency of the EU, which commences on 1 July, ACI EUROPE visited the country. With excellent support from Hermes Airports, the operator of Larnaca and Paphos airports on the island, ACI EUROPE met various state authorities, including the Minister of Communications & Works, Mr Efthemios Flourentzou, his Permanent Secretary Mr Alecos Michaelides and Mr Iacovos Demetriou, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and his team.
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June, 2012
London airports going for gold
Hosting the Olympic Games this summer will put London and its airports firmly in the international spotlight. Diligent preparations have been made to ensure smooth operations both on the ground and in the air, as the UK prepares to welcome an unprecedented influx of international visitors. Ross Falconer reports.
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March, 2012
Kallas kicks off 2012 meeting Board of ACI EUROPE
The customary January meeting of the Board of ACI EUROPE took place this year on 25 January. As in previous years, the meeting was also attended by the European Commission Vice President responsible for Transport, Siim Kallas. At this year’s meeting, while exchanging views with Vice President Kallas, ACI EUROPE President Declan Collier reinforced the airport industry’s key messages, in particular relating to the ‘Airport Package’. President Collier emphasised the need for the Commission to take action to empower airports to stimulate local and European economic growth. This, he stated, should be reflected in the regulatory framework, particularly in issues such as ground handling, airport slots, and aviation noise, but also others such as security, external relations and the disruptive ‘one bag rule’ being implemented by some airlines.
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March, 2012
Airports and MEPs discuss Airport Package
ACI EUROPE’s follow-up work after the announcement of the European Commission’s (EC) ‘Airport Package’ continues. ACI EUROPE organised an evening reception in the European Parliament, on 24 January, to allow Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), ACI EUROPE Board members and EC officials to meet and exchange views on the details of the Package. Hosted by Inés Ayala Sender (Spain) and Jim Higgins (Ireland), both influential MEPs on the Transport Committee, the evening was a great success, with very supportive statements from both Ms. Sender and Mr. Higgins in favour of our industry, and attendance from a number of important MEPs, ACI EUROPE Committee Chairs & Vice Chairs, and representatives of the wider aviation industry.
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March, 2012
Unwrapping the Airport Package
On 1 December 2011, the European Commission announced its ‘Airport Package’ of legislative proposals concerning airport slots, ground handling and aviation noise, with an accompanying communication about the growing urgency of the airport capacity crunch. Robert O’Meara & Donagh Cagney report.
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March, 2012
Airports actively engaged in EASA Rulemaking Process
The European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Rulemaking Process for the new regulatory system for aerodrome safety reached an important stage in December 2011, when the Notice of Proposed Amendments was published. Gernot Kessler, Head of Airports Section, EASA, and Philipp Ahrens, Manager: Safety, Capacity, ATM & Single European Sky, ACI EUROPE gave both sides of the story to Ross Falconer.
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December, 2011
World 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, 2011
A 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, 2011
EU 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, 2011
Prelude 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, 2011
Water 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, 2011
ACI 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, 2011
Further 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, 2011
Providing 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.

























