EU airport policy: Recent developments

Abstract

This paper summarises the ‘airport package’ presented by the European Commission on 24th January, 2007. The package consists of the Communication on Airport Capacity, Efficiency and Safety in Europe, the Proposal for a Directive on Airport Charges, and a report on the implementation of the Directive on groundhandling. It also outlines the importance of efficient slot allocation at European airports. The action plan described in ‘Airport Capacity, Efficiency and Safety in Europe’ aims to identify areas where EU member states can work together to meet future challenges on airport capacity, and outlines five measures to improve the capacity of the European airport system. The measures are built upon existing EU initiatives such as the Single European Sky programme to reform the architecture of European air traffic control, and the European navigation satellite system, Galileo. The Proposal for a Directive on Airport Charges will structure the discussions on airport charges between airlines and airports. The Proposal is based on three ICAO-principles: non-discrimination, transparency and consultation. The report on groundhandling confirms that the Directive on groundhandling has improved the functioning of the market in groundhandling services at European airports. Slot allocation will continue to play an important role in accommodating the forecast increase in traffic at European airports.