Etihad Airways urges EC to lead bold, exciting and world-leading aviation policies

Europe should become an aviation policy leader.

Europe should become an aviation policy leader. After an ongoing battle over open skies between the USA and UAE, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has urged the European Commission to embrace โ€œbold, exciting and world-leading reformsโ€ as part of the Strategic Aviation Package to overhaul Europeโ€™s air transport industry.

In a detailed submission to the Commission, the airline advocates a policy which actively facilitates competition and consumer choice, addresses critical shortfalls in aviation infrastructure and eases restrictions on market access and investments by non-European airlines.

Etihad Airways says: โ€œWe welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important process, given our significant operations into Europe and our investments in a number of European carriers. We believe that this gives us a unique perspective on the current regulatory environment in Europe, as well as a sense of what needs to change in order to ensure a vibrant and competitive industry in the future.

โ€œThe Strategic Aviation Package proposed by the European Commission represents a significant โ€˜window of opportunityโ€™ to strengthen the European air transport sector as an economic and social enabler, and a key driver of growth, through bold, exciting and world-leading initiatives which improve the efficiency of the industry and increase global flight connectivity.โ€

Etihad Airways proposes nine principles for progress:

1. Put competition and consumers at the forefront of policy development;
2. Think globally, not locally;
3. Ensure that connectivity is at the heart of EU aviation and transport policy;
4. Support innovation in business models, and not artificially constrain them;
5. Promote transparency, efficiency and legal certainty in order to attract external investment;
6. Take a holistic approach to security;
7. Tackle regulatory obstacles and infrastructure inefficiencies, and fully reflect Better Regulation practices;
8. Encourage structural reforms in the air transport industry, and;
9. Promote open skies.

The airline supports its submission with expert research from three global consultancies, Oxford Economics, Edgeworth Economics and The Risk Advisory Group.

Oxford Economics conducted a major economic impact study which shows that Etihad Airwaysโ€™ core operations and capital spending in 2015 alone will support over 51,200 European jobs and contribute โ‚ฌ3.3 billion to the EUโ€™s GDP. The report also shows that in 2015, Etihad Airways will contribute โ‚ฌ1.7 billion to EU GDP through connectivity improvements.
The Risk Advisory Group prepared an analysis of the state support received by European flag carriers prior to and following their privatisation. While Etihad Airways does not challenge the European system, it seeks to demonstrate that this system has created a distorted playing field for new entrants.

Edgeworth Economics conducted an analysis of competition and connectivity in the European air travel industry which showed significant growth in flights and demand between Europe and the key regions served by Etihad Airways, as well as the competition and connectivity impact of Etihadโ€™s equity investments and codeshare partnerships.

The full content of these studies can be accessed by visiting www.keeptheskiesopen.com.

Commenting on the European aviation review, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, James Hogan, said: โ€œAviation in 2015 is global, not local. By taking a strategic and holistic approach to aviation policy-making, the European Commission can deliver meaningful change, not just for Europe, but also for the benefit of air travellers and the airline industry worldwide, just as the US did with its visionary Open Skies Policy.โ€

Etihad Airways has invested in five European airlines – Alitalia (49 per cent), airberlin (29 per cent), Air Serbia (49 per cent), Aer Lingus (4.99 per cent) and the Swiss regional operator Darwin Airline, which trades under the Etihad Regional brand (33 per cent).

In addition to strengthening these airlines and providing more choice for travellers to, from and within Europe, the investments by Etihad Airways have supported more than 17,000 European jobs within partner airlines, and supported European economies through increased flights, improved connectivity, and local expenditure and investments.

Mr Hogan said: โ€œThe European Commission has declared that it wants to revive Europe as an economic powerhouse, and a hub for jobs, for growth and for investment. Air transport is essential for such a promising agenda and for international trade.

โ€œEtihad Airways recognises the enormous growth achieved by liberalisation of intra-European airline operations, and urges the European Commission to now be the catalyst for global air transport reforms by easing restrictions on non-European airline access to member states and global investment in airlines domiciled within the EU. Such liberalisation would align with the Commissionโ€™s commitment to adopt policies which create investment, employment and economic confidence, while also providing access to new sources of capital via international investment.

โ€œThe Strategic Aviation Package clears the way for a new round of change, not just for aviation within Europe, but for European aviation in a global market. The European Commission has a rare and important opportunity to reset the agenda with bold, exciting and world-leading reforms, which increase competition, benefit consumers and drive economic growth.โ€

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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