Europe’s Regional Airlines Fight for Equal Treatment
On several fronts Europe’s regional airlines face challenges to achieve parity with larger airlines–which operate larger aircraft and wield more
Mike Ambrose
Mike Ambrose

On several fronts Europe’s regional airlines face challenges to achieve parity with larger airlines–which operate larger aircraft and wield more clout–and the heavily subsidized rail sector.

At its annual conference, held in Rome September 28 to 30, the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) revealed its own study comparing state support for the rail and air sectors. The study, entitled “Air and Rail: Setting the Record Straight–environment, investment, mobility and political bias,” showed that subsidies for rail exceed those for air transport by a factor of 125. “The conclusion is clear–both modes offer a solution to providing intra-european transport, but the case for rail as the ‘preferred’ mode by policymakers and transport planners can no longer be justified,” said ERA director general Mike Ambrose.