Julie Lassaigne, Secretary General, European Travel Retail Confederation.

The European Travel Retail Confederation (ETRC) and other organisations representing stakeholders across the European air travel value chain and air transport, have issued a joint statement requesting urgent support from the European Commission and Member States to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

ETRC has co-signed the statement, which calls for quick and targeted support during the crisis, along with Airlines for Europe (A4E), the Airline Catering Association (ACA), Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the Airport Services Association (ASA),  The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA),  the European Regions Airline Associations (ERA) and EU Travel Tech (EUTT).

This latest move comes after ETRC, ACI Europe, ACA and ASA sent a joint letter to the European Commission, seeking urgent support measures last month.

While A4E, ACA, ACI, ASA, ECTAA, ETRA, EUTT and ETRC welcome European Commission initiatives, which emphasise solidarity and responsibility as guiding Union principles, they believe better coordinated and proactive actions are urgently required to support the industry and its recovery.

Member States are being urged by the associations to provide urgent financial support to the entire travel ecosystem, where there are cash liquidity issues at every level. “It is crucial that all actors and supporting measures are considered on a non-discriminatory basis,” the associations said.

SUPPORTING THE RETURN OF GROWTH

European institutions have also been told to take all required measures to ensure the short-term financial viability of travel industry enterprises. In doing so, the aim should be to keep services running, protect employees and consumers alike, help them to efficiently restore air connectivity and support the return to growth of European economies.

The European Travel Retail Confederation has joined Airlines for Europe, the Airline Catering Association, Airports Council International Europe, the Airport Services Association, The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations, the European Regions Airline Associations and EU Travel Tech (EUTT) in requesting urgent support from the European Commission and Member States to help the aviation industry.

Finally, the European Commission and Member States have been instructed to create an organised consultation procedure to exchange updated information, address urgent issues and come up with mid and long-term solutions.

The associations said: “Aviation is a strategically important sector which makes a vital contribution to Europe’s overall economy and employment. In light of the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis, Europeans are no longer able to travel.

“The vast majority of aircraft in Europe are grounded, the sale of air tickets has come to an almost complete stop and airports across the continent have come to a standstill.

“We welcome the initial actions from the European Commission in targeted areas such as state aid, which recognise that entire markets are non-functioning and that urgent aid is needed.

“The aviation sector is a strategically important sector. It must be positioned as a critical enabler of Europe’s economic recovery once the crisis has passed.”

Currently, the aviation industry encompasses more than 12 million jobs and around €800bn ($864bn) in economic activity. This equates to 3.3% of all employment and 4.1% of total GDP in European countries. (Source: Air Transport Action Group).

The statement concluded: “Beyond its economic importance, air transport is a major contributor to the social cohesion and cultural values of Europe. The freedom of movement of citizens and goods sits at the core of the European project and would not be a reality without air transport.

“Europe’s citizens, communities and visitors will see its vibrance restored more rapidly if the air transport sector can quickly recover, once the Covid-19 health crisis has passed. No small part of this depends on governments providing firm supportive measures today.”

Julie Lassaigne, Secretary General, European Travel Retail Confederation recently took part in our Adapt & Survie Skype Video series, which seeks commentary on the Covid-19 crisis. Click here to see the interview.