OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Amendment of the Aviation Guidelines with respect to the specific provisions on operating aid to airports

Competition

The 2014 Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines contain a specific transitional period (expiring in April 2024), during which operating aid to airports with less than 3 million passengers annually can be declared compatible with the internal market. The Commission proposes a targeted amendment of this transitional period involving a short prolongation without further changing the rules, in view of the additional time needed to start recuperating from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis.

Links

Public consultation

ID: 13428

Lobbying Activity

11 responses

Swedish Enterprise urges higher aid thresholds for regional airports

Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, 1 Jul 2022

The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise supports the suggested prolongation of the transitional period for airport operating aid. They also point out the need to permanently increase the current passenger threshold to 500,000 passengers.
A higher threshold allows more regional airports to secure funding and avoid closure.

Airport trade body urges three-year extension for regional airport subsidies

Airports Council International - European Region, 19 Jul 2022

The organization requests a three-year extension of the transition period allowing operating aid to regional airports. They argue this would preserve air connectivity and regional development, both recognized EU objectives. They also urge increasing the threshold for block exemption rules from 200,000 to 700,000 passengers annually.
This would maintain subsidies for smaller regional airports struggling to cover costs after pandemic losses.

German environmental group BUND opposes extending regional airport subsidies

Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e. V., 20 Jul 2022

BUND rejects extending the transition period for airport operating subsidies until 2027. They argue that air traffic is recovering quickly and regional airports are inefficient. The group maintains these subsidies are incompatible with EU climate goals.
Ending airport subsidies would directly reduce avoidable greenhouse gas emissions.
Regional airports would lose three years of state aid for their operating costs.

ERA urges three-year extension for regional airport operating aid

European Regions Airline Association Ltd., 20 Jul 2022

ERA requests a three-year prolongation of the transition period for regional airport aid. They also propose increasing aid thresholds to account for inflation and rising costs.
This would protect regional carriers from financial fragility and preserve vital flight connectivity.
Competing transport sectors lose out as subsidies allow regional flights to remain artificially competitive.

German airport association supports extending regional airport operating aid

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflughäfen, 12 Jul 2022

The organization supports extending the transitional period for operating aid by three years. They request an unbureaucratic process without new notification requirements and suggest expanding simplified rules to airports with up to 700,000 passengers.
This extension provides regional airports with financial planning security to survive pandemic-driven losses.

Consultation response

Flughafen München GmbH, 15 Jul 2022

Munich Airport is convinced, that the ability to keep providing operating aid to regional airports beyond the current 2024 deadline under EU State aid rules will be crucial and therefore strongly supports the initiative of the European Commission to extend the transitional period for operating aid…

Consultation response

Union des Aéroports Français et Francophones Associés, 21 Jul 2022

L’UAF remercie la Commission européenne pour l’organisation de cette consultation publique, et soutient pleinement la prolongation de la période transitoire prévue par les Lignes Directrices de 2014 sur les aides d’État aux aéroports et aux compagnies aériennes, pour les raisons exposées dans le…

Consultation response

Bundesverband der Deutschen Fluggesellschaften e.V., 21 Jul 2022

The Association of German Airlines (Bundesverband der Deutschen Fluggesellschaften e.V. – BDF) and its member airlines have been and remain firmly convinced that subsidies and state aids are likely to distort competition. Hence, it was logical to phase out and prohibit operating aid to regional…

Consultation response

Back on Track Belgium vzw-asbl, 21 Jul 2022

Back on Track Belgium vzw asbl is a NGO that promotes initiatives in support of international long-distance trains, especially night trains from and to Brussels as night train hub. It's widely known from studies that in Europe regional airports, many of which are small, live of traffic to tourist…

Anti-noise group urges EU to end airport operating subsidies

Bundesvereinigung gegen Fluglärm, 21 Jul 2022

The association demands ending airport subsidies to help reduce harmful air traffic. They argue that airports must raise fees to achieve full cost recovery.
Ending aid would likely lead to fewer flights and noise pollution reductions.
Unprofitable regional airports and low-cost carriers lose access to essential public funding.

Consultation response

Connaught Airport Development Company, 18 Jul 2022

Following two years of the devastating impact caused by COVID-19 and with additional uncertainties caused by the ongoing situation in Ukraine coupled with increasing oil prices, Ireland West Airport seeks a prolongation of the transition period for operating aid beyond 2024 which is justified, as…