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Challenges for Intra-European Air Transport

Challenges for Intra-European Air Transport. Andrew Clarke Director Air Transport Policy 14 October 2004. What is ERA?. 65 airlines and 38 airports. 65 airlines 38 airports in 26 countries. What is ERA?. 65 airlines and 38 airports Airlines carry 80 million passengers each year

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Challenges for Intra-European Air Transport

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  1. Challenges forIntra-European Air Transport Andrew Clarke Director Air Transport Policy 14 October 2004

  2. What is ERA? • 65 airlines and 38 airports

  3. 65 airlines 38 airports in 26 countries

  4. What is ERA? • 65 airlines and 38 airports • Airlines carry 80 million passengers each year • Serve over 1000 routes • Operate more than 2 million flights each year • Operate a combined fleet of more than 1100 aircraft • With an average capacity of 68 seats • With an average flight length of 520 kms (320 miles) • With an average flight time of 1 hour 10 minutes

  5. Europe’s buses in the air • Small aircraft • Small markets • Wherever possible, frequency and schedule to match needs of business travellers • Actual costs low, but costs per seat and per passenger much higher than for “low-fare” airlines

  6. Connectivity • “Low fare” airlines offer point-to-point, not connectivity: • connections are at the passengers own risk • “Traditional” airlines offer point-to-point and connecting flights: • connections are “guaranteed” – passengers arriving late from one flight will be rerouted onto the first available connection, often on another airline • 30% of passengers on ERA member airlines are connecting to or from another flight • meeting the needs of travellers to and from Europe’s regions

  7. Connectivity • Despite the massive and continuing growth in the number of passengers carried by low-fare airlines • And noting the positive impact that low-fare airlines fare policies have had on “traditional” airlines fares • ERA notes that 375 airports in Europe are served only by aircraft of 100 or fewer seats, that is by aircraft smaller than those operated by most low-fare airlines • ERA observes that this does not reflect the AER view that “traditional” airlines are deserting regional airports

  8. Operations at congested airports threatened • Slots are allocated according to EU Regulation • Current regulation respects “grandfather rights” • EC is consulting on application of “market mechanisms” including confiscation of slots on the basis of a lottery • No long term stability in schedules • No long term economic viability for operators • Fewer small aircraft and fewer short flights • Reduction in flights between regions and major hub airports • What is AER’s position?

  9. More capacity and TENs-T • Only 1 airport project in latest list of 100 TENs-T projects • TENs-T guidelines now offer increased EU funding for cross-border projects • almost all airports can offer cross-border opportunities but are not considered to be cross-border projects • Single European Sky initiative is beneficial, but real increases in airspace capacity are many years away AER and ERA have a common interest in improving air transport priority within TENs-T

  10. Interline fares threatened • European Commission regular review of allowing competing airlines to agree fares for through journeys • EC appears unfavourable to extension beyond June 2005 • ERA (and IATA) have made strong representations • ERA believes that customers benefit from through fares and other benefits of IATA multilateral interlining system • What is AER’s position?

  11. Compensation & assistance(DBC) rules threaten economic viability MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ERA AIRLINES, • An airline unable to operate a short flight for any reason (eg fog or snow) is liable to refund a passenger’s entire intercontinental ticket AND to buy a new ticket to return the passenger to his starting point

  12. “Better Regulation” • ERA does not oppose regulation where necessary • ERA does not want unnecessary regulation • ERA strongly opposes poor and damaging (whether intentionally or unintentionally) regulation WHERE REGULATIONS ARE NECESSARY, THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND EUROPE’S REGIONS NEED GOOD REGULATIONS THAT CREATE OVERALL BENEFITS

  13. “A Vision forEuropean Air Transport” • Developed by ERA in response to members’ concerns • Covers all topics in this short presentation, and more • Espouses 7 principles for better regulation • Identifies future beneficial regulatory action PLEASE ASK FOR A COPY info@eraa.org

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