The addition of 10 new members to the European Union and the imminent arrival of 25 newly appointed European commissioners has spurred the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) to publish its own blueprint for the development and regulation of the European transport industry.
The association's Vision for European Air Transport, launched at its general assembly in Vienna, is intended as a rival to what it calls the EC's "inconsistent and contradictory" white paper on transport policy, which was unveiled soon after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
The ERA's document calls for regulatory impact assessment of legislative proposals, consultation and the avoidance of unnecessary cost burdens. Outlining the proposals, ERA director general Mike Ambrose highlighted concerns about the lack of impact assessment on denied boarding proposals and also those relating to passengers of reduced mobility. He complains that these proposals are not being applied evenly across the transport system. While they will affect all air transport services, they are likely only to apply to international and not domestic rail operations. He adds that neither will airlines be allowed to pass on the considerable extra costs of carrying reduced mobility passengers.
The document will be distributed to politicians, regulators and other airlines, including members of the Association of European Airlines, which launched its own action plan in October. "We are trying to get leisure carriers and the majors on board," says Ambrose. "Some association has got to lead and we found we were probably more affected by regulatory change than other carriers."
As the ERA outlined its policy agenda, its member airlines reported a steady growth in traffic over the first half of the year. Passenger numbers were up 4.3% and load factors climbed by a couple of points to reach 59.7%, with further gains expected. However, falling yields are giving cause for concern, with air fares about one-third lower than they were three years ago, says chief executive of PGA Portugalia Airlines, Joao Ribeiro da Fonseca, the outgoing ERA president.
He also reminds airlines of the need to invest in technology. For example, regionals must embrace e-ticketing with the same enthusiasm as the low-cost carriers, says da Fonseca.
Antonis Simigdalas, chief operating officer of Aegean Airlines, which won the association's airline of the year award, was named as this year's incoming ERA president.
JACKIE THOMPSON VIENNA
Source: Airline Business
