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COVID-19 open letter to Transport Ministers

COVID-19 open letter to Transport Ministers

Updated 17 March: Ahead of a high-level EU Transport Ministers meeting on 18 March, ERA and A4E issue a joint open letter calling for ambitious and coordinated actions to ensure as many airlines as possible survive the present difficulties and drive economic recovery.

With COVID-19 and the subsequent travel bans and measures put in place in order to contain the spread of this disease, there are huge concerns for all ERA member airlines and the industry as mass aircraft groundings are now being realised.

Along with A4E, ERA have published an open letter to the EU Transport Ministers ahead the EU Transport Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday 18 March.

The main calls for action are aimed to address the following areas:

  • Flight bans and the European Single Aviation Market
    • Ensuring co-ordinated approach, preserving the single market and benefits
    • Ensuring that cargo aircraft maintain operations and keep open supply chains
    • Harmonised guidance and differentiators between commercial passenger flights and cargo operations
       
  • Stimulus package and support to the air transport sector
    • Deferment of ATC charges and aviation taxes at EU or national level
    • Postponement / suspension of fiscal burdens
    • Access to EU funds such as the EU Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative
    • EU-wide exemption in order to extend expiring licences due to restrictions in training / training facilities
       
  • Airport slots
    • Extend proposed slot waiver to end October instead of 30 June as currently in the draft regulation
       
  • Extraordinary circumstances and guidance on EU261 (air passenger rights)
    • Urge EU member states and National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) to apply a 3-night maximum limit with €100 per night limit, per passenger as previously proposed by the Commission in 2013.
    • Consider acceptance of a travel voucher system as alternate to immediate refunds as an exceptional temporary measure

It’s vital that EU member states and NEBs show leadership and allow flexibility to airlines, so that as many as possible survive this unprecedented situation in order to enable a swift recovery once the restrictions related to the virus are lifted.

To view and download the letter please click here