Airlines for Europe (A4E)

🎤 A punchy and insightful closing debate at #AviationSummit2025 — moderated by none other than CNN’s Richard Quest. Three of Europe’s top airline CEOs took the stage for an open discussion on tariffs, airspace delays, consumer rights and SAF. 🔹Air traffic control delays are a systemic issue, and airlines have limited ability to force capacity increases. 🔹EU261 reform remains a shared priority. Strong passenger rights must be balanced with operational realities. 🔹Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is essential — but supply and affordability remain major challenges. Ringfencing ETS revenues to support production is key. 🔹Policy alignment and simplification were also highlighted, including on issues such as baggage rules and EU ETS vs. CORSIA. Many thanks to our CEOs for this last effort: ✅ Ben Smith, CEO Air France-KLM ✅ Luis Gallego, CEO International Airlines Group (IAG)  ✅ Michael O’Leary, CEO Ryanair - Europe's Favourite Airline This was the last session of our #AviationSummit2025. We thank all our speakers, moderators and participants for a great edition, and we look forward to hosting you again!

Sustainable aviation fuel is critical to decarbonise aviation. A4E reaffirms their commitment to cutting emissions and reaching Net Zero by 2050. But the ReFuel EU legislation is not creating the affordable SAF market it promised. A new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report now forecasts a shortfall of up to 45% in eSAF and 30% in biofuels by 2030. The European Commission and Member States must take responsibility - and act now.

🛫 What does it take to ensure a competitive and sustainable future for European aviation? Our second panel at #AviationSummit2025 brought together our Managing Director, European policymakers and academia for an open and forward-looking discussion on how to reconcile competitiveness, connectivity, and sustainability. Key takeaways from the conversation included: ✅ Airlines must remain competitive to continue connecting Europe — and this requires a supportive regulatory environment ✅ Legal stability, simplification, and policy consistency are essential to allow the sector to focus on passengers and investment ✅ SAF remains a priority, but long-term financing and mechanisms like the #STIP will be crucial to building up supply and affordability ✅ ETS revenues should meaningfully support the decarbonisation of the sector ✅ The European Commission has shown renewed engagement, with strong signals that competitiveness and collaboration are moving higher on the agenda. Kudos to our speakers for a rich and honest exchange: 🔹 Ourania Georgoutsakou, A4E Managing Director 🔹 Eddy Liégeois, Head of Aviation Policy Unit, DG MOVE, European Commission   🔹 Wouter Dewulf, Professor Air Transport Management and Economics at the University of Antwerp  🔹 Kata Cserep, Moderator, PA Consulting #AviationSummit2025 #Competitiveness #SAF #STIP #Sustainability #Connectivity

✈️ A final and very forward-looking keynote from Bruno Fichefeux, Head of Future Programmes at Airbus, at #AviationSummit2025. As he highlighted, aviation is a sector of strategic value for Europe — and it must be treated as such. From bold industrial policy to long-term planning, he called for unity and vision to secure Europe’s leadership in clean aviation and innovation. Key points included: ✅ Europe must act with ambition and embed aviation priorities in the #STIP ✅ The words of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas were welcomed and encouraging — we now have a strong base to work from and build a long-term strategy ✅ Reaching zero-emission flying is possible — but it requires tailored technology, dedicated infrastructure, and sustained support ✅ Hydrogen-powered aircraft will need hydrogen-ready airports and aircraft designed specifically for that purpose 🕑 There’s a short break, but we’ll be back soon! #AviationSummit2025 #Sustainability #Innovation #CleanAviation #STIP

✈️ What makes aviation a driver of growth in Europe — and what could hold it back? At #AviationSummit2025, our first panel brought together airline CEOs, a prominent Spanish policymaker, and tourism leaders to explore aviation’s role in powering Europe’s economy, securing connectivity, and ensuring access to the world. That's what they said — and we should all remember: 🔹 Airlines are not just enablers — they are essential. Without them, Europe wouldn’t be connected. 🔹 Connectivity is not a luxury — it’s essential for economic growth, social cohesion and access, especially for remote and peripheral regions. 🔹 Europe’s airlines face the toughest regulatory burden globally — combined with intense competition. It's time to streamline regulations to boost the competitiveness of our sector on the global stage. 🔹 Regulation must evolve: rules written 20 years ago no longer reflect today’s aviation reality, and need to be modernized. 🔹 The link between aviation and GDP is proven — yet the policy environment is increasingly fragmented. 🔹 Investment must be accelerated if Europe is to meet its sustainability commitments without compromising affordability or access. 🔹 The tourism industry is also ready to act on challenges like over-tourism — but smart, proportionate policy is needed. A huge thank you to our panellists: ✅ Luis Gallego, CEO, International Airlines Group (IAG)  ✅ Marco Ciomperlik, CEO, TUI Airline ✅ Marie Audren, Director General, HOTREC – Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Cafés in Europe ✅ Benito Núñez Quintanilla, Ministerio de Transportes y Movilidad Sostenible (Spanish Ministry of Transport) ✅ Kata Cserep, Moderator, PA Consulting #AviationSummit2025 #Competitiveness #Connectivity #Growth #Sustainability #PassengerRights #SAF

🎙️ A powerful keynote from European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas at #AviationSummit2025. His message was clear: European aviation is a success story - but we cannot afford to be complacent. The path ahead must be one of sustainability, resilience and competitiveness, with aviation at the heart of Europe’s energy independence, connectivity, and strategic autonomy. Key highlights from his speech: 🔹 Aviation connects Europe — including its most remote regions — making them visible and heard 🔹 Sustainability is not only an environmental necessity, but an opportunity for energy independence and growth, and it must not come at the expense of competitiveness 🔹 The EU’s Affordable Transition Package and upcoming hashtag #STIP will be part of the solution, and industry leadership and investment will also be essential 🔹 Passenger rights reform must be clear, fair, and financially sustainable 🔹 EASA and SESAR JU will play a central role in driving smarter, more efficient airspace Commissioner Tzitzikostas reaffirmed his commitment to working hand-in-hand with the aviation sector. We are ready to collaborate to ensure the future of European aviation together. As he correctly stated "The world is moving fast- those who hesitate today will be left behind tomorrow." #AviationSummit2025 #EUaviation #Competitiveness #Sustainability #PassengerRights #AirpsaceReform

"With me, airlines will have a seat at the table". Encouraging words from Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas at the Airlines for Europe (A4E) #AviationSummit2025. There is much to do in this EU mandate if #Europe is to remain a champion on #aviation: - Put a halt to carbon leakage and the competitive distortion with non-EU #airlines which are not subject to #EU regulation; - Urgently increase the supply of #SustainableAviationFuels and reduce its cost if we are to meet the 2030 mandates; - Reform the air #passenger rights regulation, bring clarity to passengers and airlines and reduce the economic and administrative burden for our industry. - Achieve a meaningful and ambitious reform of European airspace. We look forward to a full day of important discussions on how to safeguard the future of European aviation, and ensure that Europe remains a continent connected by its own airlines. 🇪🇺✈️

A great opening keynote from the Polish EU Council Presidency at #AviationSummit2025 🎙️ Transport, competitiveness and security go hand in hand — and aviation plays a central role in all three. That was the message from Marcin Rzeszewicz, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland, as he outlined the Presidency’s approach to strengthening EU aviation. Key highlights from his speech included: 📌 Strengthening aviation’s resilience as a key component of Europe’s security - a stronger aviation sector means a safer Europe 📌 Making competitiveness a core pillar of EU transport policy 📌 Supporting decarbonisation without compromising affordability or connectivity, including through the #STIP 📌 Promoting global solutions for a global industry 📌 Advancing a modernised EU261 that guarantees both robust consumer protection and operational stability for airlines. A strong scene-setter for today’s discussions on the future of European aviation ✈️ #AviationSummit2025 #EUaviation #EUpolicy #Competitiveness #Connectivity #Sustainability #STIP

📸 Another highlight from #AviationSummit2025! We were delighted to welcome European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas to meet with the CEOs and representatives of A4E’s member airlines. The message from the sector was clear: Competitiveness must remain at the heart of EU aviation policy. We are especially grateful for the time and openness of Commissioner Tzitzikostas, and for his continued engagement with the airline community ✈️ #AviationSummit2025 #EUaviation #EUpolicy #Competitiveness #Connectivity

The A4E Aviation Summit 2025 has officially kicked off! ✈️ We opened the day with a press conference featuring A4E’s Managing Director and the CEOs of some of Europe’s biggest airline groups - all A4E members: 🔹 Benjamin Smith, CEO, Air France-KLM 🔹 Luis Gallego, CEO, International Airlines Group (IAG) 🔹 Carsten Spohr, CEO, Lufthansa Group 🔹 Michael O’Leary, CEO, Ryanair - Europe's Favourite Airline 🔹 Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director, A4E The key message resonating in the room? For European aviation to remain globally competitive - and for air travel to stay accessible to all Europeans - immediate action and the right policy choices are essential. It cannot be delayed any longer. The Summit has just started - stay tuned ⏩ #AviationSummit2025 #EUaviation #Competitiveness #EUpolicy #Connectivity