In a comprehensive presentation, Augustin de Romanet, President of ACI Europe and President & CEO of Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris) delivered his forthright views on some of the current challenges facing the airports industry in Paris at yesterday’s 27th ACI Europe Annual Assembly & Congress.

 

Top of his list was charting the progress achieved on landside security in the wake of the Brussels and Istanbul-Atatürk airport terror attacks last year, where he praised the EU’s ‘sound and effective approach,’ which he believes was rightly focused on ‘smarter and non-visible measures’.

 

According to de Romanet the measures developed alongside ACI Europe are far more effective in addressing the risks than deployment of systematic checks at airport entrances, although he said it is ‘regrettable’ that this approach was still not being adopted by Russia.

 

SAFETY QUESTION OVER POTENTIAL LAPTOP BAN

Turning then to the potential extension of the much-rumoured US ban on laptops to more European airports, de Romanet called for improved international cooperation and more trust between the two pillars of the global aviation security system: “I am relieved that the ban has not been extended for now – not least because of its potential safety impact.

 

“But we all need to work together on this and look for alternative measures that will be 100% safe, more effective from a security point of view and also less disruptive operationally. ACI Europe has put detailed alternative proposals on the table – and I am glad to see that IATA seems to have endorsed them.”

 

He then stressed how security and the new geopolitical environment that shapes it only serves to underline the need for strong European leadership – as well as the central importance of the EU for aviation. He said: “Populism these days comes with a strong anti-EU sentiment, but using the EU as scapegoat is both unjustified and dangerous.

 

“For aviation, this means putting at risk the Single Aviation Market – the backbone upon which we provide the air connectivity that is indispensable for economic growth, cohesion and jobs. This is exactly why Brexit is so unfortunate. By threatening the integrity of our Single Aviation Market, it affects all of us.

 

BREXIT BRINGS ‘UNCERTAINTY’

“The results of the UK elections have only increased our concerns over the prolonged uncertainty that comes with Brexit – and the possibility of a cliff-edge scenario which would see the UK exiting the EU without an alternative and bespoke trade agreement.

 

“Aviation has been recognised as one of the sectors most at risk with Brexit – the potential disruption for air travel is both real and substantial. With the advanced nature of the way airlines plan their seasonal schedules, air transport needs to be at the forefront of the negotiations.”

 

He said it also needs ‘more open skies’, as he warned against the dangers of retrenchment and protectionism, citing the unacceptable delays that the low-cost carrier Norwegian had to endure in securing the required permission to fly to the US. As such, de Romanet called for effective Open Skies and not just words on paper.

 

THE EU AIRPORT CHARGES DIRECTIVE

He also reiterated the full support of Europe’s airports for the European Commission’s ambitious Aviation Strategy: “We also need Open skies beyond the US and Canada. There is no reason not to move forward. Outbound travel from Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East is set to grow exponentially in the coming decades. Europe can simply not afford to miss this next opportunity for growth.”

 

Last, but not least, he addressed the thorny ongoing issue of airport charges and the current evaluation by the European Commission of the EU Airport Charges Directive.

 

Here he pointed strongly to the need for airport regulation to reflect the EU’s own focus on economic growth and competition: “This is an opportunity to move airport regulation from being airport-centric to consumer-centric and to make it market-driven – reflective of airport competition.

 

“Crucially, we can at last align it with the EU’s wider objectives for growth and investment. Doing this requires moving towards lighter and more proportionate forms of regulation.”

 

Augustin de Romanet, President & CEO of Groupe ADP is stepping down as ACI Europe President after two years, at which point he will hand over the reins to Dr Michael Kerkloh, President & CEO of Munich Airport (see left) who has been elected to take over the post with effect from close of business at the Annual Congress today.