Brussels, 23/01/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following the rail package, the Commission is now tackling the airport sector with a three document “package” it aims to use for improving European airport quality. Expected out in December 2006, the package will be presented by the Commission on Wednesday 24 January. It includes a communication on airport capacity, accompanied by an action plan, draft proposal on airport fees and a report on application of the 1996 directive on ground-handling services.
The communication is proposing a series of concrete actions at a European level to meet the needs of coordinated action on capacity, efficiency and security of airports. In an effort to better monitor the situation regarding airport capacity, the proposed action plan includes implementation of a genuine “observatory” made up of experts from the Commission, Member States and industry. The observatory will be in charge of monitoring airport capacity and regulating and resolving congestion problems resulting from increased air traffic. It will be managed by Eurocontrol and will become a tool for introducing harmonisation and standardisation of methods for calculating airport capacity.
The Commission is also proposing key actions for optimising existing airport capacity: a coherent approach for airport safety operation. This will consist of extending European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) competencies to airport security (as announced in the communication COME (2005) 578 of 15 November 2005). It will also include enhanced use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). GNSS will help enhance security and efficiency.
The general inclusion of GNSS in the operational process of air traffic management (ATM) will be assured through the SESAR programme. - the promotion of “co-modality”, notably through the improvement of inter-modal infrastructure and promoting the railways. - improving the environmental capacity of airports, especially in the reduction of noise, and better planning of new airport infrastructure. The Commission will also promote the development and implementation of new technologies through research programmes which will fund projects on A-SMGCS - the system which routes, guides and monitors aeroplanes and vehicles, allowing planned surface movement to be maintained no matter the weather conditions. Other programmes will also help prevent airports being overcrowded.
The draft directive on airport charges seeks to implement common principles for airport charging in the EU. The draft directive, which is in response to calls from air operators (see EUROPE 9324), aims to improve transparency and consultation between airport operators and air operators on airport charges. It obliges the two parties to exchange information and requires air operators to be consulted before the final decision is made on the amount to be charged. Airport operators will be able to vary the charges in relation to the quality of service provided. To ensure that there is no discrimination in airport charging, the Commission proposes to set up an independent national monitoring authority. This would allow the opportunity for both airport operators and airport users to appeal should the latter challenge a decision either to alter airport charges or to amend the system of charges. The directive provides for the creation of such an authority in every Member State in order to guarantee the impartiality of decisions, and appropriate and effective implementation of the directive. The directive would also require Member States to ensure that, annually, airport operators provide air operators or their representatives with information on how the airport charges were calculated. In addition, the draft directive proposes to require airport operators to inform transporters of plans for major alterations to the airport infrastructure when these could have an effect on the level of charges.
The Commission is also presenting its long-awaited report on the application of Directive 96/67 on access to groundhandling. This directive recognises two kinds of services: those to which all suppliers have free access, for example luggage transfer and re-fuelling, which are to be liberalised gradually. Fearful of moving further in this area, there being no consensus within the sector, the Commission has restricted itself to replacing the planned draft review of the directive with a report on its application, which will serve as the basis for possible future changes. The report concludes that the directive has contributed to: the introduction of competition in some airports which previously were closed markets; the development of money spent for groundhandling services; the increase in the pressure on groundhandling services to delaying actions on the part of some authorities with regard to the full application of the directive; the impact on working conditions in the sector, but without there being a reduction in the number of jobs; finally to a moderate re-allocation of the groundhandling market shares in some European airports, the most important from the economic point of view and from the point of view of prices. (aby)