Strikes criticised in push for single sky solution
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Air associations have criticised strikes in another push to implement a Single European Sky (SES) agreement.
The Association of European Airlines (AEA), European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) and European Regions Airline Association (ERA) have called on European states to collectively address how the aviation industry works in Europe after proposals were released by the European Commission (EC) this week.
“Instead of industrial actions and counterproductive confrontation, which will severely penalise European air passengers, airspace users call for a clear commitment by all stakeholders, including states, to work together to achieve the successful and timely implementation of the Single European Sky,” the associations said in a statement. “There is a real need to address this situation urgently: solutions exist but they require a real political and institutional impulse.”
The EC’s proposition included several elements similar to a Blueprint released by AEA, ERA and IATA earlier this year, such as the need for an independent review body; unbundling support services and more independence for Civil Aviation Authorities.
European states have been slow to arrange a SES agreement which could reduce costs and the environmental impact of airlines, and improve safety.
“The Commission shares the industry’s frustration with the failure of European states to progress the SES. Every year that SES languishes in limbo is a EUR5 billion knock to European competitiveness and costs the environment 8.1 million tonnes of wasted carbon emissions,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and CEO.
“Today’s proposal takes a clear step in the right direction and we look forward to further details. What is missing, however, is the sense of urgency to move these key reforms forward quickly. In some cases, 2020 has been suggested as the deadline. This needs to be advanced,” he added.
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