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EU Matters

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.