European Regions Airline Association director-general Mike Ambrose struck an extraordinarily positive tone during a recent interview with AIN as the recession-driven downturn in traffic appears to be easing slightly. He cites airline demand that has led manufacturers into development of new aircraft and engines, such as the Bombardier C Series and Pratt & Whitney PW1500 geared turbofan, as well as further variants of established designs such as the ATR 42/72 series.
“There is a future [and] we are investing in it,” Ambrose said ahead of this month’s ERA general assembly. “The industry has never stopped believing in itself.”
European regional airline traffic and capacity figures for this year’s first half, scheduled for release at the meeting, appear likely to show a continued easing in the travel downturn. Meanwhile, as has become his custom, Ambrose has called for regulators to avoid proposing “unnecessary” legislation as the industry works hard to balance its available capacity.
