Commission Vows to Level the Playing Field for EU Airlines and Explores New Measure to Address Unfair Subsidies and Market Distortions

Washington, D.C. (December 7, 2015) – Today the European Commission released a new aviation strategy, which includes a commitment to leveling the playing field for EU airlines. In the paper, the Commission recommends important mechanisms to address airline subsidies and unfair practices that have a “significant negative impact on the competitiveness of the EU aviation industry.” In response to today’s announcement, Jill Zuckman, chief spokesperson for the Partnership for Open & Fair Skies, released the following statement:

“We commend the European Commission for putting in place strong safeguards to protect the competitiveness of EU carriers and the aviation industry as a whole. The global aviation market is highly competitive and when some governments, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, are unfairly propping up their state-owned carriers with enormous subsidies, it distorts the market and harms domestic airlines around the world and their workers. Here in the United States, our aviation industry and the hundreds of thousands of workers who support it cannot afford to wait; it is time for the Obama administration to open talks with the governments of the UAE and Qatar to enforce our Open Skies agreements.”

Click here to view the European Commission’s Aviation Strategy for Europe.