Brussels, 09/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Parliament is still seeking to define its position on the airport package, while the Council has already enacted on two of the three issues brought forward. During the hearings on Tuesday 8 May at the Parliament's committee on transport (TRAN), MEPs sought the opinion of the aviation sector. It was mainly the Commission's proposal to increase airport capacity by adjusting time slots for landing and take-off that came under fire.
The introduction of secondary trading of slots as a means to increase usage of existing capacity appeared, however, to be accepted and wanted by all. The rapporteur, Giommaria Uggias (ALDE, Italy) summed up the situation saying that secondary slot trading allows time slot mobility to be improved and is seen as a good thing. There was opposition, however, to any future requirement to use 85% of an allocated slot, as compared to the current 80%, in order to keep the slot from one year to the next. Opposition was also voiced regarding an increase in time slot series, from 5 to 10 for the winter season and to 15 for the summer season.
Given their concern for the working conditions of ground handling staff, MEPs felt the hearing delivered little evidence that the Commission plan to impose a choice of 3 rather than 2 ground-handling service providers in airports with more than 5 million passengers per year would translate into better baggage and ground-handling services for customers. The rapporteur, Artur Zasada (EPP, Poland), also acknowledged some reservation, fearing that such deregulation would pose major problems in airports.
The airport package section on reduction of noise pollution raises fewer uncompromising feelings. Rapporteur Jörg Leichtfried (S&D, Austria) welcomed the Commission's approach as a management tool for local authorities when the interests of local residents conflict with those of airport operators, but felt that the proposal was too far-reaching. (MD/transl.jl)