ACI EUROPE urges extension of operating aid for regional airports to safeguard connectivity

ACI EUROPE has responded to the European Commission’s consultation on revising the Aviation State Aid Guidelines, urging that operating aid for regional airports in Europe be extended to maintain vital air connectivity. While the European Commission has recognised the role of State aid in ensuring fair competition and regional connectivity, the proposed 2027 deadline to phase out this aid fails to consider the economic challenges faced by smaller airports.

Regional airports often struggle with high infrastructure costs and a lack of economies of scale, making them financially unviable, particularly after COVID-19 and with the impact of the EU Fit for 55 climate regulations. These changes will increase operating costs, especially for less busy routes, and airlines will pass these costs onto passengers, further reducing demand.

Currently, airports with fewer than 3 million passengers annually can receive operating aid to cover deficits. ACI EUROPE suggests this threshold could be reduced to 1 million passengers. Without this aid, many regional airports could close, exacerbating the divide between well-connected metropolitan areas and regions reliant on air transport for economic sustainability.

Supporting regional airports is crucial, as highlighted in Mario Draghi’s report on European competitiveness, which projects a shrinking EU workforce by 2040. The report also emphasises the strong link between air connectivity and GDP growth, with a +10% increase in connectivity leading to a +0.5% rise in GDP per capita.

Given that regional airports are still recovering from COVID-19, with traffic down by 34.5% from pre-pandemic levels, ACI EUROPE stresses the importance of maintaining operating aid to safeguard economic growth and connectivity across Europe.

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