Europe needs a new coherent framework for its aviation industry, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, ceo of Lufthansa and chairman of the Association of European Airlines (AEA), said.
Speaking at the European Aviation Club in Brussels, he said a new framework must create a level playing field between all the industry's participants, including airlines with different business models, airlines and their service providers, airlines and other types of transport and between European and non-European carriers.
He said that while airlines were doing a "great job" for their customers and employees, the industry was "underperforming" in its relationship with its investors and shareholders.
There were also, he said, two "crucial" areas in which the industry was "not functional" - in the "imbalance in the airline's value chain and the distortion in its regulatory environment."
But while changes were needed in this last area, Mr Mayrhuber praised the “open minded” regulators at the EC for "displaying a new sensitivity to the industry's problems and a willingness to consult with stakeholders."
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Talks on EU-US PNR deal go on
Talks between EU and US officials on a new deal to share Passenger Name Record (PNR) data
were continuing this week.
The officials are working under a deadline of September 30 when the existing deal expires. This deal was agreed in 2004 but in May this year the European Court of Justice ruled it illegal on a technicality, saying a new deal must be in place by the end of this month.
The deal required European carriers to provide US authorities with details of passengers on their flights to America.
The European Parliament which wants to limit the amount of passenger data given to America. It last week called on EU governments to include privacy safeguards in any new agreement.
* new jobs this week on BTE's recruitment site www.businesstraveljobs.com