Europarlementariërs ondervragen deskundigen over plannen ter verlichting congestie EU-luchthavens (en)

Half of all flights could face delays by 2030 if nothing is done to ease congestion at Europe's busiest airports, according to the European Commission. The airports package launched by the Commission aims to tackle this problem as well as improve services to passengers and aircraft as investment in airport often takes decades from planning to completion. The Parliament's transport committee found out from representatives of the aviation sector on 8 May what they thought of the ambitious plans.

About the airports package

The airports package is about tackling congestion and improving groundhandling services at Europe's airports. As such it covers anything from airports slots, groundhandling services to noise at airports.

European air traffic is expected to grow significantly, which could result in congestion and even more travel delays. To solve this problem without further airport expansion, the Commission proposes to reform the system of allocating airport slots, which are the permissions airlines need to land or take off at an airport on a specific date and time. The Italian Liberal-Democrat Giommaria Uggias is in charge of steering this part of the proposal through the Parliament.

Another proposal of the package aims to increase competition among providers of baggage handling, refuelling and other ground services at airports. Polish Christian-Democrat Artur Zasada covers this on behalf of the Parliament.

The third legislative piece aims to improve clarity and transparency of procedures used by local authorities to set aircraft noise limits. Austrian Social-Democrat Jörg Leichtfried is in charge of this on behalf of the Parliament.

Debate about airport slots

There was a lively discussion about airports slots when the Parliament's transport committee invited aviation experts on 8 May. Introducing secondary trading of slots between airlines would allow airlines to directly buy and sell slots to each other, but not everyone is convinced this would work.

Matthew Baldwin, a representative of the Commission, was in favour of it: "Our busiest airports are just not being used as they should. That's why we want to promote amongst other things slot mobility through secondary trading. It should help to ensure that slots go to airlines which can make the best use of it."

Simon Smith, an expert on air traffic policy and regulation at Steer Davies Gleave consultancy, argued that airlines that hold slots for 20 years are not necessarily the ones who will use them most efficiently. "Now it's very difficult for competitors to enter the most congested airports. Ryanair and Easyjet have only been able to grow by avoiding the most congested airports." Introducing secondary trading of slots between airlines could make a significant difference in some of the most congested airports, he said.

Mr Uggias, the MEP covering the airports slots proposal on behalf of the Parliament, commented: "Secondary market for slots is supposed to improve flexibility with timing and that will undoubtedly improve things. We need clear separation of the (slot) coordinators from airport authorities and from other stakeholders."

However, Athar Husain Khan, Deputy Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines, was sceptical about the plan's potential. He said: "Slots regulation will not increase airports capacity. Building infrastructure is what increases airports capacity."