A renewed EU aviation and aeronautics strategy for the next decade – a BusinessEurope position paper

Introduction

Aviation and aeronautics must be seen as strategic assets for Europe. Their ecosystem – comprising manufacturers, airports, passenger and cargo airlines, aircraft leasing companies, air navigation and other service providers and intermediaries, fuel producers and suppliers – supports millions of jobs, drives research and innovation, connects Europe’s businesses, citizens and regions, supports its tourism economy and secures its import and export capacity. Since the adoption of the 2015 Aviation Strategy for Europe, the operating environment for European aviation has changed profoundly. Over the past decade, the sector has faced a succession of external shocks and regulatory shifts, including the COVID-19 crisis, the implementation of the EU’s ambitious ‘Fit for 55’ package, the closure of Russian airspace to EU carriers, and increasing geopolitical instability, notably stemming from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The geopolitical developments and an increasingly divergent and complex regulatory framework have significantly reshaped global aviation markets to
the detriment of European airlines and airports and placed growing pressure on the international competitiveness of European operators and industry. This resulted in a decline in connectivity, undermining a fundamental enabler of Europe’s export-oriented economy. To ensure a global level playing field, it is crucial to develop a regulatory framework that supports the competitiveness of the European aviation sector while enabling the achievement of Europe’s climate ambitions. At the same time, it is essential to preserve and strengthen the competitive advantage of Europe’s civil aeronautics industry vis-à-vis third countries.

BusinessEurope therefore welcomes the Commission’s initiative to develop a renewed EU Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy. While Europe should remain at the forefront of aviation decarbonisation, it needs a clear, balanced, more realistic and forward-looking vision where this ambition is accompanied by policies that protect the Single Market, safeguard international competitiveness, support investment, advance innovation and digitalisation, and reinforce the sector’s resilience. The Strategy should therefore recognise aviation and aeronautics as key enablers of the Single Market and drivers of European connectivity, technological leadership, trade, territorial cohesion and competitiveness, placing air connectivity at the heart of EU aviation policy.