Europe’s five largest airlines set aside their differences on Wednesday to urge the European Union to do more to lower airport costs and taxes.
The airlines urged the European Commission – the EU executive – to lower security and airport charges, remove passenger and “unreasonable” environmental taxes and ensure air-traffic control strikes did not do too much damage to their business.
The initiative brought together the chief executives of Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways owner International Airlines Group and low-cost airlines Ryanair and Easyjet.
“It’s a historic day for European aviation because it’s the first time the five of us have met together,” said Michael O’Leary, chief executive of budget airline Ryanair , at a press conference in Brussels.
The EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc is due to unveil a series of measures later this year to boost the competitiveness of the aviation sector.
Full content: The Wall Street Journal
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