Principle of fair competition should guide airline relief measures
Today John Hanlon, the Secretary General ELFAA (Association of low cost airlines in Europe) emphasised once again that the airline sector as a whole should be characterised by free and fair competition and that inefficient and ailing airlines should not be unfairly propped up by continuing state aid.
“Relief measures are welcome only if they support the industry as a whole and not individual sectors or companies” argued Mr Hanlon who was participating as a panellist at the conference organised by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the European aviation relief programme.
Mr Hanlon stressed the need for a freeze in Air Traffic Management charges and airport charges at their 2008 levels. In addition, he called for implementation of the Airports Charges Directive to be accelerated, ensuring greater transparency and allowing airlines to appeal against increases they deem unjustified.
Finally, Mr Hanlon suggested a means to provide some relief across the airline sector, namely for Member States to bear the costs of aviation security costs. “States have access to security intelligence which they are understandably unable to share with airlines or consumers. Hence, only states can truly know whether the proportionality of measures is
appropriate, or review their continued justification. It is thus unfair to force airlines to bear the brunt of these costs.”
The EESC’s proposals for a European aviation relief programme are welcomed by ELFAA and will give equal opportunities to all companies in the airline sector to better weather the current economic crisis.
