In Turin the comparison on European regional airports

The ACI EUROPE Regional Airports Conference & Exhibition, an annual event that brings together the European regional aviation community in a particularly delicate phase for the sector, was held at Turin airport.

The meeting comes at a time when the entire air transport ecosystem is preparing to face the effects of the war in the Middle East, with repercussions that risk affecting regional airports in particular. The new energy crisis weighs heavily, adding to recent structural changes in the aviation market and European and national policies deemed inadequate, aggravating the fragility of the regional airport network and territorial connectivity, considered essential for the cohesion of the continent.

Among the most immediate critical issues is the sharp increase in the price of jet fuel in Europe, which exceeded $1,800 per tonne at the beginning of the month. This scenario is pushing airlines to increase fares and manage capacity more restrictively. Regional airports are particularly exposed, because demand on their routes is generally more price-sensitive and therefore less profitable for carriers. As a result, when airlines have to reduce capacity, cuts tend to focus more easily on regional connections, as also demonstrated by Lufthansa's recent decision to close its regional subsidiary CityLine.

According to ACI EUROPE, the European regional airport market is already experiencing a multi-speed recovery. Small regional airports still record passenger traffic more than 30% lower than in 2019, while larger ones saw traffic grow by more than 16%. In this context, the current levels of fuel prices and the prospect of a new cost-of-living crisis risk generating a simultaneous shock on the supply and demand side for many regional airports.

To further complicate the situation, there is the slow introduction of the Schengen Entry/Exit (EES) System, which according to the sector risks creating strong operational problems in regional airports serving the main tourist destinations during the summer. A photo of passengers queuing directly on the runway of a Greek regional airport earlier this month was also shown during the event, cited as further evidence of the need to allow border authorities to suspend the EES system when operating conditions so require.

On the economic level, ACI EUROPE highlights that, despite inflationary pressures and the increase in traffic seasonality, airport fares at small regional airports remain on average 11% lower than pre-pandemic levels, without considering discounts and incentives granted to attract and retain airlines. This translates, according to the association, into an average loss of 2.64 euros per passenger for these airports.

The issue of financial sustainability therefore remains central, especially as regional airports continue to be considered a strategic component of the European infrastructure. According to the data recalled during the conference, they manage 35% of European air connectivity, confirming themselves as essential for the single market, territorial cohesion and regional development.

In light of this scenario, ACI EUROPE and the Regional Airports Forum are calling for a series of concrete interventions. These include the urgent suspension of national aviation taxes, deemed necessary to ease the pressure on air transport, tourism and consumers during the energy crisis. It is also asked to guarantee operating aid to regional airports up to 1 million passengers per year, recalling that an economic study by the European Commission has confirmed that airports with traffic of up to 680,000 passengers per year struggle to cover operating costs.

On the environmental sustainability front, the association calls for stronger support for the production and deployment of SAF, sustainable aviation fuels, and for the implementation of the AZEA roadmap, dedicated to the development of hybrid, electric and hydrogen aircraft in Europe. According to this roadmap, up to 2.55 million zero-emission regional flights could be operated by 2050.

Finally, ACI EUROPE called for the total suspension of the EES system in the event of excessive and unmanageable waiting times at border controls in summer 2026 and beyond, as well as safeguarding and further developing Open Skies agreements at European level to support connectivity and competitiveness.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, said: "The current levels of jet fuel prices and the prospect of a new cost-of-living crisis mean that many regional airports on our continent are at risk of facing a shock on both the supply and demand sides. For them, this represents a real existential threat". 

Andrea Andorno, CEO of Turin Airport and President of the ACI EUROPE Regional Airports Forum said: "Considering that they manage 35% of European air connectivity, regional airports are clearly indispensable elements for the EU's single market and key to regional cohesion and development. This requires effective regulatory frameworks at European and national level to support regional airports".

The issues debated at the conference held on 28 April in Turin are particularly relevant for passengers since the resilience of regional airports directly affects the availability of flights, ease of access to territories, fares and continuity of connections, especially in areas where the airport represents an essential infrastructure for tourism, economy and mobility.

ACI EUROPE

ACI Europe is the European branch of Airports Council International (ACI), the world's only professional association representing airport operators. It brings together more than 600 airports in 55 countries, whose members handle more than 95% of European commercial air traffic. ACI Europe's airports and air connectivity support 14 million jobs and generate €851 billion of economic activity in Europe, equivalent to 5% of GDP. On the environmental front, in 2019 ACI Europe members committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.