Airlines Guides

Better Airports package - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 01 December 2011, 18:22 CET

The European Commission today announced a comprehensive package of measures to help increase the capacity of Europe's airports, reduce delays and improve the quality of services offered to passengers. The measures address the quality of services passengers and airlines receive on the ground before they take off and after they land (for example, baggage handling, check-in, refuelling), the transparency of decisions on airport noise, as well as the efficiency of the complex network of take-off and landing slots that make up every journey.

Benchmark for free allocation to airlines and on the inclusion of aviation in the EU's Emission Trading System (EU ETS) - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 26 September 2011, 22:55 CET

The European Commission has taken an important step for the aviation industry to join other economic sectors in the fight against climate change. Aviation will become part of the EU's emissions trading system (EU ETS) from 2012. The European Commission has published the benchmark values which will be used to allocate greenhouse gas emission allowances free of charge to more than 900 aircraft operators.

Historic aviation emissions and the inclusion of aviation in the EU's Emission Trading System (EU ETS) - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 08 March 2011, 13:13 CET

The European Commission on 8 March took an important step in preparing for the full inclusion of aviation in the EU's emissions trading system (EU ETS) from 1 January next year. The European Commission has decided on the historical aviation emissions which will be used to calculate the number of aviation allowances to be available from 2012.

EU external strategy on Passenger Name Record (PNR) - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 21 September 2010, 19:07 CET

The European Commission has adopted a package of proposals on the exchange of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data with third countries, consisting of an EU external PNR strategy and recommendations for negotiating directives for new PNR agreements with the United States, Australia and Canada.

Passenger rights in exceptional situations - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 01 July 2010, 22:47 CET

Air and rail passengers continue to enjoy protection even in exceptional circumstances such as the eruption of the Icelandic volcano in April 2010. The situation caused many difficulties for travellers throughout Europe, but passenger rights still applied.

Air passenger rights in the EU - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 30 June 2010, 00:39 CET

The European Commission has launched a Europe-wide publicity campaign in 23 languages to inform passengers about their rights when travelling by air or rail.

Second Stage EU–US "Open Skies" agreement - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 24 June 2010, 15:31 CET

The 'second stage' Open Skies aviation agreement was signed by the European Union and the United States in Luxembourg today. The full implementation of the first and second stage agreements is expected to give the economy a EUR 12 billion boost as well as create up to 80,000 new jobs.

Volcanic ash cloud crisis: EU response to tackle the impact on air transport by EUbusiness — last modified 27 April 2010, 14:02 CET

The European Commission has presented a preliminary assessment of the economic consequences for the air transport industry of the volcanic ash crisis. It also outlines a range of possible short-term actions and structural measures to help the air transport industry overcome this unprecedented period. Faced with this crisis, the first priority of the Commission was to intervene to facilitate the opening of airspace under strict safety conditions so that millions of stranded passengers could get home and to ensure that EU passenger rights are fully respected. Now that the situation is normalising, the focus is on a package of short-term and structural measures for the air transport industry.

The Volcanic Ash Crisis and the EU - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 20 April 2010, 23:04 CET

This briefing outlines the European Union's response to the most frequently asked questions concerning the current volcanic ash crisis, notably in relation to the Commission's role in opening up Europe's airspace, while fully respecting safety requirements, to passenger rights and to the economic response for sectors hit by the crisis. While decisions on airspace management are a national competence, faced with a situation which had become unsustainable the Commission intervened to help facilitate European solutions – to maximise available airspace, within strict safety controls. The Commission has worked tirelessly since Friday, 16th April to work with all key actors to open up corridors of European airspace. Progressively opening up airspace holds the key to providing the most immediate relief to stranded passengers and hard hit economic sectors, while ensuring that safety concerns remain paramount.

Second stage EU-US "Open Skies" agreement and existing first stage air services agreement - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 25 March 2010, 20:15 CET

On 25 March, after eight rounds of negotiations, negotiators reached preliminary agreement on a 'second stage' air services accord. The agreement builds on the 2007 EU-US Open Skies Agreement, increasing regulatory co-operation, and removing barriers to market access that have been holding back the development of the world’s most important aviation markets.

EU Recommendations for Passengers by EUbusiness — last modified 17 December 2009, 11:40 CET

The EU Top 12 Recommendations for Passengers

Common EU Regulations in the field of civil aviation security by Ina Dimireva — last modified 08 December 2009, 00:02 CET

This Regulation sets common rules in the field of civil aviation security and mechanisms for monitoring compliance, with the aim of guaranteeing security in air transport and protecting persons and goods within the European Union.

Common EU Regulations in the field of civil aviation security by Ina Dimireva — last modified 04 December 2009, 14:17 CET

This Regulation sets common rules in the field of civil aviation security and mechanisms for monitoring compliance, with the aim of guaranteeing security in air transport and protecting persons and goods within the European Union.

Overhauling EU rules on package travel - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 26 November 2009, 14:09 CET

Millions of travellers who book holiday ‘packages’ with combinations of flights, hotels, car rentals etc on the internet or in the high-street look set to receive tougher financial protection if things go wrong, under plans put out for consultation by the European Commission today. The Commission is consulting on extending the basic cover provided by EU’s 1990 Package Travel Directive – on information, liability for sub-standard services and protection for insolvency - to the next generation of ‘dynamic packages’ where consumers make up their own packages, often online, through one website or different partner websites. 23% of EU consumers, and over 40% in countries like Ireland, Sweden are now booking "dynamic packages", many of which currently fall outside EU protection rules (67% mistakenly think they are protected). Following the recent spate of airlines going bust, the paper also considers extending basic insolvency protection for consumers beyond package and dynamic packages across the board, including for stand alone airline tickets.

Security Standards of the EU by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 September 2009, 23:45 CET

The attacks on 11 September showed that there is an unprecedented dimension to the terrorist threat which justifies the need for coherence in all cooperation efforts (banks, police, courts, etc.) and effective action. It has therefore been decided to introduce an EU security policy based on the legal instruments provided by the Treaty in order to give legal force to the rules and mechanisms for cooperation at EU level.

Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 September 2009, 23:46 CET

The SESAR project (formerly known as SESAME) is the European air traffic control infrastructure modernisation programme. SESAR aims at developing the new generation air traffic management system capable of ensuring the safety and fluidity of air transport worldwide over the next 30 years.

Single European Sky by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 September 2009, 23:46 CET

The reform of the European air traffic control system aims to meet the challenge of large increases in air traffic expected in the coming years. It also aims to increase security, reduce costs, delays and the impact of air traffic on the environment.

Agenda for General and Business Aviation by Ina Dimireva — last modified 23 September 2009, 23:46 CET

The increase in air traffic in Europe requires consideration to be taken of General and Business aviation in the European Union's transport initiatives. The key objectives are to improve data collection, ensure proportionality of rules and regulations, incorporate this sector correctly into the Commission's initiatives and improve the use of existing capacities and access to global markets whilst ensuring environmental sustainability.

'Open Skies' agreement between Europe and the United States by Ina Dimireva — last modified 24 August 2009, 17:30 CET

The 'Open Skies' agreement concluded between the European Union and the United States of America provides for all transatlantic routes to be opened up to European and American companies. It also includes an arrangement to develop the agreement further on matters such as airline ownership.

Airline Ticket selling websites – EU Enforcement Results - briefing by EUbusiness — last modified 14 May 2009, 22:13 CET

New EU results published by the European Commission today show a "step change" in airline ticket selling websites across Europe in terms of compliance with consumer protection rules. The findings feature in a final report on an 18 month EU-wide process to crackdown on misleading advertising and unfair practices. As a result of an EU enforcement investigation started in September 2007 – with 15 EU national authorities and Norway - 115 airline websites out of the 137 websites investigated have been corrected. Following an additional "health check" process involving independent mystery shopping in March 2009 on 67 major airlines, 52 airlines have either been given a "clean bill of health" and undertaken to maintain the same standards or immediately responded to the Commission's consultation with undertakings to remedy outstanding issues (see lists below). The health check process checked websites against a comprehensive 14 point checklist, which was previously agreed with the airline industry. The Commission is now working to put in place an industry wide agreement to provide a level playing field for airlines across the EU and to maintain sites to a high standard.