Brussels, 14/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - The airline lobby would like the Commission to rethink the European Single Sky performance and charging system for the 2015-2019 reference period.
The performance and charging system is an essential component in the European Single Sky, just like functional airspace blocks, and is aimed at making flying cleaner, more competitive and less expensive. The European Commission has just received a slap in the face from member states, which recently rejected its proposal on the 2015-2019 performance and charging system. This occurred despite the fact that member states are barely keeping to their minimum targets for the current 2012-2014 period. The president of the five associations representing the interests of the airlines have sounded the alarm (European Airlines - AEA, aviation business - EBAA, low-cost airlines - ELFAA, regional European airlines - ERA, International Air Carrier Association - IACA): “The Single European Sky needs to be put back on track by stronger leadership from the European Commission and enforced commitment by the member states”. Given that member states rejected the Commission proposals on the post-2015 performance and charging system, which was seen as being too ambitious, the aviation sector is proposing a rethink of the whole system: “We call on the European Commission to withdraw its proposal regarding the performance and charging schemes and to work on a more appropriate framework in line with the SES high-level goals”. They would like to discuss the matter with the Commission and believe that this option would be preferable to a levelling down in the Commission's revised proposal. (MD/transl.fl)