11 June 2024: Article 5 of the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation aims to addresses economic tankering practices by airlines and mandates that airlines must uplift a minimum of 90 per cent of their yearly aviation taxi and trip fuel requirement from any EU airport that has more than 800,000 departing passengers per year.

While this article is considered an important component of ReFuelEU by the co-legislators, it poses some specific operational issues for regional carriers who operate smaller aircraft, serve shorter routes and face unique constraints and hazards. Without mitigation, compliance with Article 5 will require major adjustments to regional airline fuel management practices and pose significant challenges.

However, recognising some of these issues, the regulation also allows operators to apply for exemptions on those flights of less than 850km in length (1,200km for remote islands) and based on several pre-determined criteria:

• serious and recurrent operational difficulties such as weather, ramp space and congestion, staffing and local specificities, and
• cumulative issues such as geographic and structural fuel supply difficulties.

Ahead of the exemption guidelines being published by 1 September this year, DG MOVE organised a workshop with airlines to discuss the main elements.

In the download tab in the top right, members only can access ERA’s notes from the meeting as well as the presentation given by DG MOVE.

In case of questions, please contact nick.rhodes@eraa.org [1]