European airlines starting new lobby club – Financieele Dagblad (Registration)

The five largest European airlines begin a new lobby club to defend their case in Brussels. That the CEO of Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways / Iberia (IAG) and budget airlines Ryanair and easyJet announced Wednesday at a joint press conference. It is the first time that the five competitors join forces.

From left to right, International Airlines Group CEO Willie Walsh, Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac, easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary pose Wednesday after a meeting in Diegem, near Brussels airport.

Reuters

Airlines Recommendations include at lower Airport tax at European airports and further development of a Single European Sky (SES Single European Sky). They also want new regulations for labor negotiations with air traffic controllers, possibly in the form of binding arbitration. The number of strikes by air traffic controllers should be reduced.

New aviation strategy

The European Commission is currently working on a new airline strategy to improve the competitiveness of European aviation. Commissioner Violeta Bulc of Transportation presents end of this year its new policy. CEOs want Brussels to do more to help the airline started. “The European airline industry should be a strong sector again, as he always was,” said the Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr.

The European airline industry has been characterized so far by division. The lobby organization of European Airlines, the Association of European Airlines (AEA), earlier this year rocked by the departure of the German airline airberlin. Earlier also had the International Airline Group (IAG), which owns British Airways, Iberia and Vueling prize fighter, left the organization.

Divisions

Differences of opinion will remain, as emphasized Alexandre de Juniac, CEO of Air France KLM Wednesday during the press conference. So there is still discord over the emergence of air from the Persian Gulf. According to Air France-KLM and Lufthansa Gulf Carriers companies like Etihad Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates unfair competition because they benefit from billions in aid. They want, therefore, that Brussels takes action against these Gulf Carriers.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said simply that he has no problems with the growth of airlines from the Gulf, which he admires. Earlier this year, Qatar Airways has a 10% stake, the largest shareholder of IAG.