ACI EUROPE’s Post

Today, ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec met with Enrico Letta, the author of the recent landmark report on the Future of the EU Single Market and the way forward. Together with ACI EUROPE President Armando Brunini, and our Italian member Assaeroporti - Associazione Italiana Gestori Aeroporti ´s President Carlo Borgomeo, they fully shared ACI EUROPE's views on the centrality of our Single Market and how further deepening can ensure the EU's resilience and global positioning.    At the meeting, the relevance of transport and the essential role of air connectivity for citizens, businesses and communities was brought to the table, as well as the need to sustainably address capacity issues and growing demand through an effective industrial policy for decarbonisation.    ACI EUROPE looks forward to continued engagement with the EU Institutions and further contributing to the EU's future strategic directions. 

[PRESS RELEASE] Presenting the cornerstone State of the Industry at the opening of the 34th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress and General Assembly in Istanbul, Director General Olivier Jankovec addressed Europe’s airports’ new normal and key financial and operational challenges ahead.  While the latest traffic data shows that passenger volumes across the European airport network have now just surpassed their pre pandemic (2019) levels, and the peak summer months promise to be the busiest ever, wide performance gaps amongst national and individual airport markets are part of the industry’s new normal – with Jankovec stating ‘there is no question we live in a whole new world’.  Airports face several key challenges: squeezes on investments, regulatory resets, capacity limitations and the mother of all challenges - decarbonisation. Jankovec pointed to the need for airports to become the masters of their own capacity and performance, as a matter of ‘environmental efficiency, connectivity and service quality.’ Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e685Z--c #ACI2024IST

Pleased to moderate the power panel on liberalization of air transport during the first “ACI Airport Day Peru” held in Lima yesterday with Francesca Luna Bulnes, Jaime Binder, Evans Humberto Avendaño Tapia, and Martín La Rosa. Engaging discussion that culminated in four key actions needed for the Latin American and Caribbean region: (1) more commercial freedom, (2) more policy coherence, (3) greater government-industry collaboration, and a (4) friendlier doing business environment that support new entrants such as Low Cost Carriers. Thank you Airports Council International - Latin America and Caribbean - ACI LAC for the invitation and to the great organization by LIMA AIRPORT PARTNERS, Aeropuertos del Perú, and Aeropuertos Andinos del Perú. And thanks to other panelists who brought so much value on pressing issues that matter to the industry: International Air Transport Association (IATA), JetSMART Airlines, Content of panel built on advisory strategy research and expertise by NACO, Netherlands Airport Consultants | Kateryna Kopylova | Phuc Le | and LATAM Regional Manager Sergio Parra González

LIVE FROM ROUTES EUROPE: Michael Stanton-Geddes, Director of Economics & Competition at ACI EUROPE, delivered a keynote address during Routes Europe 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark, discussing the latest trends currently impacting the European aviation industry. ✈ He highlighted the uneven character of air traffic recovery across Europe. While overall traffic nears pre-pandemic levels, only 44% of airports have fully rebounded. Southern & eastern Europe are seeing a stronger growth, indicating a shift in traffic flows. The market is transforming due to increased seasonality, a focus on international and leisure travel, and consolidation towards aircraft with a smaller passenger capacity. He also underlined the need for policy adjustments to support airports in adapting to these dynamics. Click here to read the full article from Aviation Week Network: https://shorturl.at/aeux9

The decision of the UK Government to support a third runway at Heathrow is excellent news for UK plc 👍👏 - it takes stock of one key metric: every 10% increase in air connectivity yields a 0.5% increase in GDP per capita along with an increase of 1.6% in employment. This decision should surely be a wake up call for the EU & the European Commission - which on the same day has released its #competitivenesscompass… without even one mention of air connectivity and the key role it plays for competitiveness and the bloc’s global position. #acompasswithoutaviation? Heathrow | London Gatwick | London Luton Airport | London Stansted Airport | London City Airport

Very interesting to discuss the local developments at other European airports in relation to their airport charges pricing and regulatory developments at ACI EUROPE meeting in Thessaloniki. Also got to present and discuss Schiphol 's developments on the #airportcharges 2025-2027 and what we are doing to reduce the noise impact through the differentiation of our airport charges.

📣 ACI EUROPE joins over 400 cross-sector organisations in a collective call on EU leaders to confirm the Green Deal as a strategic priority for the next EU mandate.   The EU Green Deal is the foundation of a competitive, secure, modern and efficient Europe. As such, it must be underpinned by EU industrial policy supporting its implementation. EU airports are bound by a number of requirements for their infrastructure to meet the ambitious goals enshrined in the Green Deal, and they now need the stability and supporting measures to deliver on the transformation. This means, the EU Green Deal needs to be reconfirmed as a key strategic priority for our bloc by the new leaders assuming their office this year and complemented by a sound EU industrial strategy to support it. Moreover, the European aviation stakeholders are ready to start a closer cooperation with the institutions shaping their sustainable and competitive future, notably the European Commission, to establish an EU Pact for Sustainable & Competitive Aviation, fully aligned with the EU Green Deal objectives. Read the full joint statement here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dwabKkTY Find out more about European airports' priorities for the new EU political cycle here:  https://shorturl.at/xzTAh #GreenDealforEU

This European summer season is coming to an end, and it has once more served as a stark reminder that flight delays continue to represent a critical challenge to efficient and sustainable air transport. While multiple factors contribute to this frequent source of disruption, Air Traffic Management (#ATM) inefficiencies play a significant role, with increased demand during peak seasons causing even further pressure on an already strained European ATM system. Outdated infrastructure, limited capacity, and coordination challenges often lead to bottlenecks, causing delays and frustration for passengers and airlines alike, in addition to increasing CO2 emissions. For instance, an analysis by EUclaim on airlines serving UK airports during the summer period showed that Ryanair had 789 delayed flights, while EasyJet followed closely with 722 delays. With the failure of the Single European Sky initiative, mitigation remains crucial, including investing in modernizing ATM systems, enhancing coordination between states, and adopting innovative technologies. This will be one of the main topics featured at the IATA Wings of Change Europe. Register now to join the discussion on how to solve the ATM puzzle on November 20-21 in Rome! 

Among Europe's top 50 airports (according to ACI EUROPE) seven reported double-digit percentage growth in passengers in October 2024 versus October 2023. Way out in front was Budapest Airport with almost 20% growth. Then come three more airports serving the capital of their countries; Rome FCO, Prague and Warsaw WAW. Five of the top 20 airports for growth are in Spain, though the capital Madrid is not among them. Among the smaller airports with greater than 20% growth, the majority are in Central, south-eastern and Eastern Europe, the exception being Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) in Germany.

Among Europe's top 50 airports (according to ACI EUROPE) seven reported double-digit percentage growth in passengers in October 2024 versus October 2023. Way out in front was Budapest Airport with almost 20% growth. Then come three more airports serving the capital of their countries; Rome FCO, Prague and Warsaw WAW. Five of the top 20 airports for growth are in Spain, though the capital Madrid is not among them. Among the smaller airports with greater than 20% growth, the majority are in Central, south-eastern and Eastern Europe, the exception being Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) in Germany.