With almost 800 million passengers arriving at and/or departing from airports located in the territory of EU member states in 2010 (according to Eurostat statistics on air passenger transport), the European aviation sector is one of the best performing and dynamic parts of the European economy, providing a wide range of connections within the EU, generating jobs, and connecting Europe with the wider world
In Malta, air passenger transport during the same year amounted to more than three million people. Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has recently published a report on the ‘Long-Term Forecast Flight Movements 2010-2030’. According to this report it is most likely that Europe’s air traffic will increase by 2030, reaching 16.9 million flight movements.
The report forecasts that Europe will not be able to meet a large part of this demand due to a shortage of airport capacity and it is most likely that some two million flights will not be accommodated. This expected “capacity crunch” is likely to have a severe impact on airlines’ ability to maintain their schedules and it is estimated that by 2030, 50% of all flights will be affected by delays.
To face these challenges, the European Commission has recently unveiled its comprehensive ‘Airport Package’ of measures with the aim of boosting the capacity of Europe’s airports, reducing delays and improving the quality of services offered to passengers. This package consists of a policy summary document analysing airport policies in the EU and three legislative proposals.
The Commission notes that optimal allocation and use of airport slots, which are defined as a permission given to an airline to use the entire range of infrastructure necessary for the operation of a flight at a given time, can be an effective tool for managing scarce capacity. Slots at EU airports are currently regulated by Regulation 95/93/EC. Recent analysis carried out by the Commission showed that the slot allocation system in place is preventing optimal use of the scarce capacity of busy airports.
To this effect, the Commission is proposing changes to the current regulation to allow for the introduction of market-based mechanisms for the trading of slots between airlines across the EU, provided that safeguards to ensure transparency and undistorted competition are established. The draft legislation also calls for stricter rules for the use of existing airport slots, requiring airlines to use at least 85% of their allocated positions in a given year – up from 80% – or otherwise risk forfeiting their unused capacity to other airlines. This will help to ensure that slots go to those carriers able to make the best use of them.
The Commission is also putting forward a legislative proposal to improve the quality and efficiency of ground handling services at EU airports. Such services include not only highly technical services such as maintenance, fuel and oil services and freight handling, but also services which are essential to passengers’ safety and comfort, such as passenger check-in, catering, baggage handling and surface transport at the airport. The proposal will give airlines a wider choice of ground handling solutions, particularly by offering greater opportunities for self-handling and increasing the minimum number of service providers at large airports for certain services that have remained relatively protected to date. It will also give airports more control over the coordination of ground handling services, including the setting up of minimum quality standards to be respected by all service providers at their airport.
Lastly, the proposed package includes new measures to improve the procedures used to establish noise-related operating restrictions at EU airports. The Commission notes that decisions on cutting noise levels have to balance protection for citizens living close to airports against the needs of those who wish to travel.
Residents are entitled to be protected from excess noise from airports but it is necessary to take into account costs in terms of lost capacity and the impacts on economic growth. The Commission is therefore proposing changes to the current rules on noise-related operating restrictions as established by Directive 2002/30/EC to put authorities in a better position to phase out the noisiest aircraft from airports.
It will also strengthen the noise assessment process in line with the principles of the International Civil Aviation Organisation ‘Balanced Approach’ on noise management so as to find the optimal combination of the most cost-effective measures for balancing transport and mobility needs with noise protection levels. Finally, it will make it possible for the Commission to scrutinise the noise assessment process and, if necessary, suspend the decision on a noise-related operating restriction, prior to implementation.
These draft Commission’s legislative proposals which are available at http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air/airports/airports_en.htm need to be approved by the European Parliament and member state governments before being adopted.