Regional Airlines: Essential, Efficient, and Under Pressure
Regional airlines are the backbone of European connectivity. They serve communities that larger carriers won’t reach, fly where rail won’t go, where ferries are seasonal, and where roads are impractical. They connect students to universities, patients to hospitals, and families to each other.
Yet, despite their efficiency and essential role, regional operators are facing increasing regulatory pressure. The ongoing implementation of the Fit for 55 package risks undermining the very operators who are already doing the most with the least.
“Regional airlines are more than just carriers, they’re lifelines,” says Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, Chief Executive Officer of ATR. “They serve the most essential routes and are already leading the way in low-emission aviation. We must protect them, not penalise them.”
A Proven Role in Sustainable Mobility
Regional airlines are adapting with agility: deploying smaller, more efficient aircraft to match demand, reduce emissions, and maintain service on thin routes. Their contribution to Europe’s mobility and sustainability goals is clear:
- 88% of Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights in Europe are operated by regional aircraft, 62% by ATRs
- 23% of European airports rely exclusively on turboprops
- Of the 1,000+ turboprop routes in Europe, only two exceed 1 million seats annually – both inter-island routes in the Canaries. This threshold is typically where high-speed rail (HSR) becomes viable, highlighting that HSR and regional aircraft are complementary, not overlapping.