BRUSSELS, 16 Oct. - (ANA) - Yesterday many of the key policymakers shaping aviation in Europe met with industry leaders at the IATA Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event in Brussels. A new blog post from Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President External Affairs, explores some of the issues raised at the event and the policies airlines need to see enacted. 

 

The blog touches on new figures for the economic benefits of air transport connectivity to Europe, and the increasing tax and regulation burden that could compromise those benefits. A revised approach to environmental policies, notably the need to support CORSIA over expansion of the EU ETS, and the urgent need for measures to avert a growing capacity crisis, are some of the solutions he proposes.          

 

 

“New analysis from Oxford Economics, commissioned by IATA and the Air Transport Action Group, shows what is at stake for Europe in socioeconomic terms. In 2025, air transport supported 18 million jobs across Europe and generated €1.36 trillion in economic activity, or 4.9% of European GDP. Aviation’s direct contribution alone reached €306 billion, approaching the size of Czechia’s economy.”

 

“Europe cannot assume that routes, aircraft and investment will grow—or even remain—regardless of the conditions it creates. Indeed, of the 554 city-pairs within the EU that were serviced by regional aircraft in 2016, 28% are no longer served by any airline. When a route becomes unviable, a region loses direct access to visitors, investment and export markets.”  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/16 October 2026 - - -