Marisa Garcia AirBaltic is the latest carrier to join Airlines for Europe (A4E), and the first airline from Eastern Europe to become a member.
The association is campaigning to minimise the impact of air traffic control (ATC) strikes on airlines, remove what it categorises as unreasonable taxes from governments, and lower airport costs. A4E members have also lent their support to the ICAO process for a global scheme to address air transport carbon emissions: the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation, or CORSIA.
“We are excited to engage with Airlines for Europe—the most important and influential Brussels-based airline association—and its member airlines on their way to form a strong, joint group for all airlines in Europe. Representing the Eastern European hemisphere we will deliver new, important insights of smaller but fast growing markets within the European Union. I am convinced that this will to the benefit of all European passengers,” said Martin Gauss, CEO of airBaltic.
“The European aviation market and its airlines are providing unprecedented mobility to citizens and businesses. Air transport is thus an enabler of economic activity and contributes significantly to economic growth and job creation. It is on A4E and its growing membership base to ensure the importance of our sector is acknowledged in Brussels and the Member States,”said Thomas Reynaert, A4E’s Managing Director.
First launched in January of this year and headquartered in Brussels, Airlines for Europe (A4E) is now Europe’s largest airline association, and growing.
Member airlines are Aegean, airBaltic, Air France KLM, easyJet, Finnair, International Airlines Group (IAG), Jet2.com, Lufthansa Group, Norwegian, Ryanair, TAP Portugal and Volotea. Combined, members serve more than 550 million passengers each year, account for more than 70 per cent of the continent’s journeys, operate more than 2,700 airplanes, and generate more than 100 billion Euro in annual turnover.
