Airlines International Representation in Europe
AIRE
Airlines International Representation in Europe represents various sectors of the international air transport industry.
Lobbying Activity
Meeting with Kosma Złotowski (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)
9 Dec 2025 · Air passenger rights at a crossroads: Striking the right balance (event)
AIRE urges EU to keep airline VAT exemptions
14 Oct 2025
Message — AIRE demands preserving the VAT exemption for international air transport under existing law. They argue taxing international flights is technically impractical and causes administrative inefficiency.12
Why — Retaining exemptions helps avoid higher operating costs and maintains passenger demand levels.3
AIRE urges flexible ownership and leasing for EU airlines
11 Jun 2025
Topic — Revision of EU rules governing air service operations, financial resilience, and sustainability.
Message — The group wants more flexible airline ownership rules to attract international capital. They suggest simplifying plane rental rules and oppose any bans on short-haul flights. Additionally, they call for a harmonized EU approach to manage air traffic control strikes.123
Why — Easier access to foreign funding would help airlines finance their expensive transition to greener technologies.4
Impact — Aviation workers may lose job security if the industry continues using diverse, unregulated employment models.5
Meeting with Peter Agius (Member of the European Parliament)
13 Feb 2025 · Introduction with association
Meeting with Pierpaolo Settembri (Cabinet of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas)
5 Feb 2025 · exchange of views
Airlines Demand Realistic Timelines for Non-CO2 Emission Reporting
29 Jul 2024
Topic — Updating European rules for monitoring and reporting non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.
Message — AIRE requests more time for monitoring plans and a simplified reporting template. They propose aligning the non-CO2 scope with existing EU ETS rules. This alignment aims to streamline management and reduce administrative burdens.123
Why — This would reduce administrative complexity and prevent inflated costs from overestimated emissions.45
Impact — Environmental groups lose data accuracy if conservative estimates are replaced by average values.6
AIRE Urges Greater Competition and Flexibility in EU Airport Rules
6 Jun 2024
Topic — An evaluation of EU legislation regarding airport slot allocation, ground handling, and charges.
Message — The group wants to keep existing slot usage rules and boost competition among ground handlers. They also seek more transparency regarding airport charges to prevent unfair price hikes.123
Why — Airlines would benefit from lower operational fees and greater flexibility during peak travel times.45
AIRE seeks to end animal transport exclusivity for IATA members
11 Apr 2024
Message — AIRE requests that the regulation include airlines that are not IATA members. They propose allowing carriers that are IOSA certified or follow IATA Live Animals Regulations.12
Why — This prevents the exclusion of over 100 airlines from the animal transport market.3
Impact — IATA members lose the exclusive market access suggested in the original commission proposal.4
AIRE Supports Passenger Rights Reform but Opposes Free Assistant Seats
13 Mar 2024
Message — AIRE requests raising the delay threshold for compensation to five hours. They propose a standard reimbursement form and a definition for alternative flights. They argue assistants for disabled passengers should pay for seats.1234
Why — Reducing compensation eligibility and litigation would lower overall compliance and operational costs.56
Impact — Disabled passengers would lose the right to free seating for their assistants.7
AIRE backs multimodal rights but warns of carrier burdens
13 Mar 2024
Message — AIRE requests a dedicated platform for multimodal delay tracking and opposes mandatory penalty frameworks. They further challenge liability requirements for service animal damage and equipment replacement.12
Why — Clear ticket classifications and caps on accommodation would reduce administrative and reimbursement costs.34
Response to Update of common rules for the allocation of slots at European Union airports
24 May 2022
Airline group AIRE demands delay to sustainable fuel mandates
17 Nov 2021
Message — AIRE calls for delaying the 2% sustainable fuel target until 2030. They want synthetic fuel requirements to be optional for member states. The organization also rejects proposed taxes on aviation fuel and tickets.123
Why — Lowering these targets would protect airlines from surging operating costs and competitive disadvantages.4
Impact — European travelers and the tourism industry face higher costs and reduced mobility.5
Aviation group AIRE rejects fuel taxes and seeks mandate delays
17 Nov 2021
Message — AIRE rejects the proposed aviation fuel and ticket taxes in their entirety. They advocate delaying the 2% sustainable fuel mandate until 2030 to reflect market conditions. They also suggest making synthetic fuel production targets optional.123
Impact — Environmental groups lose as slower fuel transitions delay aviation decarbonization efforts.6
Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport) and Airlines for Europe and
3 Mar 2021 · SES2+
Meeting with Adina-Ioana Vălean (Commissioner) and
4 Feb 2020 · Environment, SES/SES2+, Airmorts, Slots, Passenger rights, safety, International liberalisation of Air Services Agreements
AIRE urges EU alignment with global aviation emission standards
30 Nov 2018
Message — AIRE strongly encourages the EU to bring its regulatory framework into alignment with international standards. They argue the current proposal creates technical differences that threaten the integrity of the global scheme.12
Why — Alignment would prevent market distortions and ensure airlines are not penalized by underestimating emissions.34
Impact — Global climate goals lose if other countries follow Europe’s lead and weaken emission standards.5
AIRE and airlines urge EU to maintain seasonal time changes
12 Nov 2018
Message — The airline associations strongly prefer to maintain the current system of seasonal time changes. If the policy changes, they demand a synchronized implementation across all member states delayed until 2021.123
Why — Keeping the status quo prevents massive logistical complexity and protects valuable global airport slots.45
AIRE opposes including air passenger rights in collective lawsuits
21 Jun 2018
Topic — A proposed directive for representative actions to protect the collective interests of consumers.
Message — AIRE urges excluding air passenger rights regulation from the scope of this directive. They request clear definitions for mass harm to avoid confusing and clashing procedures.12
Why — This exclusion avoids unfounded liabilities that could lead to higher air fares.3
Impact — Consumers lose a path to collective compensation for flight cancellations or delays.4
Meeting with Joshua Salsby (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)
9 Mar 2018 · Aviation issues
Meeting with Violeta Bulc (Commissioner) and
23 Nov 2017 · Meeting with the delegation of AIRE CEOs on Aviation package
Meeting with Joshua Salsby (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)
8 Jun 2017 · Presentation of IACA event
Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)
27 Jun 2016 · NM Audit, aviation strategy
Meeting with Joao Aguiar Machado (Director-General Mobility and Transport)
15 Jun 2015 · Aviation strategy, Eurocontrol governance, SESAR deployment