Aviation leaders have issued a damning critique of European policymaking at a summit organised by the bloc’s largest airline association, Airlines for Europe (A4E). The CEOs of 17 European airline groups called for urgent commitments to protect their competitiveness and ensure that air travel remains accessible to the bloc’s citizens.
“Europe is becoming too expensive to do business and as a result, passengers are switching to non-EU destinations, hubs and carriers” said Ourania Georgoutsakou, A4E Managing Director.
Europe’s airspace is fragmented & outdated, forcing planes onto inefficient routes, causing delays & more emissions. We can’t let this continue.
— Airlines for Europe (A4E) (@A4Europe) February 25, 2025
Why airspace reform is key:
✅ Cut CO₂ by up to 10%
✅ Reduce delays#airspace #reform 👇 pic.twitter.com/7pvNXoM8D2
Regulatory costs could have funded 300 fuel-efficient aircraft
Behind A4E’s concern is an upcoming Steer Economics report that shows the cost of legislative and regulatory measures to the aviation sector has tripled over the past decade, to the tune of €15 billion in 2024 – a sum “that could have funded 300 next-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft”, a press statement pointed out. That financial burden could double to reach €27.5 billion in 2030, the group says, blaming “an incomplete EU single market, inefficient airspace management and escalating sustainability-related levies.”
Although air travel is facing an existential crisis around decarbonisation, the airline representatives emphasised the economic benefits to be gained from a well-functioning sector, highlighting that “every 10% increase in air connectivity translates to a 0.5% boost in GDP per capita and a 1.6% increase in jobs.”
At a meeting with the European Union’s Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the group said therefore vital steps need to be taken to promote “Europe’s ability to connect people and compete globally.”
Powerful keynote by Commissioner @tzitzikostas at #AviationSummit2025. Aviation is a European success story but we can’t afford complacency.
— Airlines for Europe (A4E) (@A4Europe) March 27, 2025
Priorities:
🔹Strengthen competitiveness & connectivity
🔹 Invest in sustainability
🔹 Balanced passenger rights
🔹 Efficient airspace pic.twitter.com/ZS3FQ5o4R5
Key demands
A4E’s proposals include reviewing “Fit for 55”, a package of EU legislation aimed at a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In a LinkedIn post, the group noted a new Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report that forecasts a shortfall of up to 45% in eSAF and 30% in biofuels by that target date.
To better manage airline transition, A4E says, the bloc’s ReFuel legislation needs repurposing, the price of SAF in the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) needs to come down, the carbon offsetting scheme CORSIA should be reinforced at a global level, and the cost of emissions should be equalised across all carriers. Despite the sweeping reform demanded, following the summit the group issued a statement to clarify that “A4E remains fully committed to decarbonising aviation, cutting emissions, and reaching Net Zero by 2050. Abundant and affordable SAF is critical in order to reach this goal.”
✈️ A forward-looking keynote from Bruno Fichefeux of @Airbus at #AviationSummit2025:
— Airlines for Europe (A4E) (@A4Europe) March 27, 2025
🔹 Aviation is a strategic sector for 🇪🇺
🔹 Priorities must be embedded in #STIP
🔹 Hydrogen flight needs infrastructure & long-term support
There is a short break, but we will be back soon🕒 pic.twitter.com/IKFWDmb6bn
The CEOs also called for EU261 consumer rights regulation to be made cost-neutral and fairer to all parties, acknowledging “operational realities”. Meanwhile, air navigation service providers need to be held more accountable and address airspace reform to reduce delays and carbon emissions. What’s more, governments, the group said, should avoid defaulting to a position where they keep raising aviation taxes.
Speaking as he took over the chair of A4E from Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said, that finding“concrete solutions” to decarbonisation is “key to Europe’s sovereignty” and is a challenge that must be addressed by industry and government together.
