PRAGUE – The President of ACI Europe and CEO of Fraport, Stefan Schulte, has called on the European Commission to deliver an Aviation Strategy that strengthens Europe’s competitiveness by enabling aviation to invest, innovate, enhance resilience and accelerate decarbonisation.
Speaking at ACI Europe’s 36th Annual Congress and General Assembly in Prague, Schulte highlighted a series of challenges facing the sector, including the operational impact of the Schengen Entry Exit System (EES), airport investment requirements, regional connectivity, innovation and sustainability.
Warning over Entry Exit System implementation
During a discussion with Magda Kopczyńska, Director General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission, Schulte expressed concerns about the operational consequences of the EES and its impact on passenger flows at European airports.
“Right now, EES is what keeps me and many other airport CEOs across Europe awake at night. Passengers are queueing for hours at peak traffic times and I just do not know how we will be able to cope in the coming weeks with the expected increase in traffic. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Brunner and Home Affairs Ministers must stop pretending the situation is manageable and that the EES is working just fine. It is not. We urgently need full flexibility for border control authorities to suspend the EES whenever needed to avoid further chaos – along with a rethink of those processes. This is about showing respect and decency for those who chose to travel to the EU, and safeguarding our reputation as a welcoming and efficient destination.”
Refocusing aviation policy on competitiveness
Looking ahead to the European Commission’s Aviation Strategy, expected later this year, Schulte called for a policy framework that recognises the wider economic value of air connectivity.
“Over the past decade, EU policy has focused almost exclusively on our negative externalities. While we must keep addressing climate and noise impacts, Europe can no longer overlook aviation’s strategic value. Air connectivity underpins the Single Market, powers tourism and the Experience Economy. It connects regions, attracts investments and supports millions of jobs. All this means aviation is central to the EU’s competitiveness, strategic autonomy, cohesion and global positioning agenda.”
Schulte outlined five priorities that he believes should form the basis of Europe’s future aviation policy.
Preserving airport capacity
He argued that reform of the EU Slot Regulation is necessary to maximise the use of existing airport capacity, particularly as Europe contains many of the world’s most congested airports and creating additional capacity remains difficult. “This is not just a technical issue. With airline consolidation advancing, slot reform is also the most important issue to safeguard the well-functioning and integrity of our Single Aviation Market.”
Supporting airport investment
Schulte stressed that airport infrastructure investment has become a strategic priority for Europe, noting that most airport investment is commercially financed and does not place a burden on public finances.
According to ACI Europe, airport investment requirements across Europe are estimated at 360 billion euros over the coming decades. The ten largest European airports alone are planning investments of 36 billion euros during the next five years.
However, he warned that any revision of the EU Airport Charges Directive could undermine investor confidence and delay investment decisions. “To materialise, these investments require legal certainty and regulatory stability – as investors need confidence in a predictable framework to commit capital to long-term airport infrastructure projects. Revising the EU Airport Charges Directive would do exactly the opposite. It would open a Pandora’s box, leaving investors in the dark for several years. Preserving a stable regulatory environment is critical to ensuring airports can continue to deliver the infrastructure needed for Europe’s competitiveness.”
Protecting regional connectivity
Schulte also called for continued operating and financing support for smaller regional airports to safeguard territorial cohesion and connectivity. He said this would require amendments to the draft State aid guidelines for aviation recently published by the European Commission.
Innovation and resilience
Among the measures proposed were continued funding for SESAR research and deployment programmes, streamlined certification procedures for aviation security equipment and the removal of regulatory barriers affecting the wider deployment of biometric technologies at European airports.
According to Schulte, these measures would support operational efficiency, improve the passenger experience and strengthen the competitive position of European airports.
Accelerating decarbonisation
On sustainability, Schulte reiterated proposals developed by ACI Europe and its DESTINATION 2050 partners, calling for stronger incentives to complement existing regulatory obligations.
“Let’s be honest: with the policies and regulations currently in place, Europe is losing on both fronts. We are not reducing aviation’s emissions at the pace required, and we are steadily eroding our position in an increasingly competitive global market. Time is running out, and the upcoming Aviation Strategy must make sure we turn the tide by complementing regulatory obligations with the incentives urgently needed to accelerate decarbonisation.”
Among the measures highlighted were the allocation of Emissions Trading System revenues to aviation decarbonisation projects, additional Sustainable Aviation Fuel allowances under the ETS after 2030, an effective Book & Claim system for SAF and the integration of airports into European and national energy planning and grid development programmes.
Schulte also argued against extending the ETS to all flights departing from the European Union, stating that such a move would weaken the competitive position of European aviation.
Tags: Magda Kopczyńska, European Commission, Fraport, Stefan Schulte
