Foreign Airlines Association chairman Colin Stewart has welcomed the launch of a European lobbying group for the industry.
He believes the new group, Airlines for Europe (A4E), will grow from its current membership of five airline groups – Air France-KLM, EasyJet, International Airlines Group, Lufthansa Group and Ryanair.
The groups, which carry more than 50% of passengers in Europe, want to campaign on at least three key issues:
– reducing European airport costs
– providing safe and efficient airspace by reducing the cost of air traffic control
– stimulating greater economic activity and employment by creating an appropriate regulatory framework.
"We are delighted to hear about the launch of new airline lobby group," said Stewart.
"Whilst BAR UK plays a vital role on a national level, representation across Europe is an extremely welcome development.
"The voice of the airline industry needs to be heard and with the ‘big five’ already steering the way, I am certain A4E will successfully and rapidly grow its member base and implement essential changes to the benefit of the industry and of passengers across the continent."
