Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has marked the lifting of travel restrictions between most of its member states by publishing two landmark documents.: 10 Commitments from the airport industry to Passengers, Communities and Authorities, and 10 Recommendations to National Authorities and the European Institutions.
The documents have been published in collaboration with the national airport associations of France (UAF&FA), Germany (ADV), Italy (Assaeroporti), Romania (RAA) and the UK (AOA).
The first document outlining the 10 commitments to passengers, communities and authorities shows the priority placed by Europe’s airports on delivering the safe, reliable and sustainable passenger experience. According to ACI Europe the document reiterates the fact that Europe’s airports are amongst the safest, cleanest and most controlled public spaces as we strive to return to normality.
Additionallly, the industry’s commitments embrace its continued climate action towards the target of Net Zero CO2 emissions at the latest by 2050 for operations under its control.
Welcoming ACI Europe’s commitments, the European Commissioner for Transport Mrs Adina Vălean said: “Every journey starts with a first step and every journey by aircraft starts at the airport. I welcome the commitments made by the European airport industry on confidently and safely restoring air connectivity. They are fully in line with our guidelines and specifications, showing responsibility and care both for passengers and for staff. This is the new normal as we learn to live and travel with the virus.”
Meanwhile the 10 recommendations for national authorities and European institutions underline airports’ critical role in the economic development as well as the connectivity of the regions and communities they serve. ACI Europe is calling on policymakers to develop a clear plan to re-build air connectivity and re-invigorate tourism, championing collaboration at national and European levels and ensuring that no stakeholder is excluded from supporting measures.
“Europe’s airports are economic enablers with safety running through their very DNA,” said Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe’s Director General. “Our 10 commitments and 10 recommendations are concrete, confident and unequivocal… We clearly ask of European policymakers and national and international level that they match our commitments with proportionate and harmonised actions. The European Commissions’s call to member states to lift remaining intra-EU restrictions as of today, and with the wider world by the end of this month, is a welcome signal with which we stand fully aligned. Let’s reconnect and fly again,” he concluded.
