Brussels, 28/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) would like the Commission to take account of the socio-economic consequences likely to be brought about by revision of take-off and landing slots. On Wednesday 28 September, it announced its plans to carry out an independent study to assess the issue. This study follows the one produced by Steer Davies Gleave (SDG), which was commissioned by the European executive, which plans to use it only as a basis for reviewing the regulation determining slots. ERA's initiative has come about as it claims that this study failed to look at the possible effects of a reallocation of slots on employment in the regions of Europe, on European airlines, on the economy or simply on social welfare. The association laments the fact that the SDG study aims solely to maximise the volume of passengers, by systematically replacing the smallest aircraft with larger ones. ERA is concerned that many regional air traffic routes would be unable to support the use of larger aircraft; yet these regional corridors are vital for linking regional communities with big cities, with the socio-economic consequences that brings. ERA hopes that its own report will bring this factor to the Commission's attention before it starts its revision of the regulation. (MD/transl.fl)