ACI Europe has published an airport industry manifesto on the future of transport policy ahead of a new five-year EU political cycle beginning later this year.
The report from Airports Council International cites sustainability and decarbonsiation as the biggest challenge for the industry along with what ACI Europe says is the "disruptive" EU Fit for 55 regulations driving the radical transformation of aviation.
The EU Fit for 55 regulations were designed to reduce the European Union's
greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030.
ACI Europe president Armando Brunini referred to sustainability and decarbonisation as “the mother of all challenges” when he presented the manifesto to key political figures, regulators and industry representatives last night.
Brunini said: “There is no doubt that the recently adopted SAF mandates, revised ETS rules and AFIR requirements are all needed to decarbonise aviation. But there is also no escaping the fact that these new rules are very disruptive and come with significant risks of reduced air connectivity and competitiveness.”
Brunini voiced concerns that the regulations would impact not just airports, but also the communities and regions they serve. ACI Europe's president also urged the industry to prepare for the
deployment of zero-emission aircraft and to support airports as they transform into not only transport hubs but also
"energy hubs".
"Being green will require access by airports to
massive volumes of renewable energy, as well as the development of new
on-site production, storage and distribution facilities," he said.
He called for national regulators to fully abide to the
‘user pays’ principle as regards airport charges, but to base these
charges on CO2 emissions of aircraft.
Brunini also said the development of more comprehensive
aviation agreements was key to safeguarding and reinforcing "the
integrity" of the single aviation market in particular with India,
Brazil, Mexico, South Korea and Japan, along with visa facilitation
regimes.
“With the new EU political cycle coming at a time when our aviation
market has undergone significant structural changes and the whole sector
faces the unprecedented challenge of decarbonisation, we must future
proof our European airport model and its societal value – for
passengers, communities and the planet,” he said.:
The organisation's Airport Industry Manifesto for the Next EU Political Cycle looks at strategies that support the decarbonisation of aviation while also preserving its socio-economic benefits.
Key manifesto points include:
• Effective regulatory and financial support to ensure SAF production in Europe meets both the SAF mandates set by EU law and voluntary commitments from airlines – and also bridge the price gap with conventional fuels;
• The inclusion of SAF in the scope of the ‘strategic Net Zero Technology’ under the EU Net Zero Industry Act to the extension of both, the SAF Accounting flexibility and the SAF allowance mechanisms (under RefuelEU and EU ETS) and further financial support for the development of SAF;
• De-fragmenting Air Traffic Management and delivering the Single European Sky;
• Abolishing national aviation taxes so that the sector can afford to finance its transition;
• Preserving the ability of smaller and regional airports to receive operating aid under EU State Aid Guidelines;
• Launching a dedicated EU Strategy on intermodality.