European airline leaders, through Airlines for Europe (A4E), have urged regulators to support the sector’s competitiveness at a critical turning point. In a chief executive declaration issued on March 19, the 16-member association highlighted recent Middle East airspace disruptions as evidence of EU airlines’ resilience and global connectivity role. “We cannot continue to take for granted the progress that we have collectively achieved. EU airlines and passengers cannot keep absorbing ever-growing regulatory and cost burdens,” the CEOs stated.
A4E calls for an update to the 2015 EU Aviation Strategy, advocating a global, pro-growth approach amid upcoming legislative reviews. Leaders demand reduced EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) costs, which currently apply only to intra-European flights. With free allowances phasing out by January 1, 2026, airlines must purchase emissions rights for all CO2 output within the EEA, Switzerland, and UK, risking multimillion-euro penalties despite SAF uptake efforts.
The group opposes extending ETS to all EU-departing flights, favoring strengthening ICAO’s CORSIA as the sole global carbon pricing mechanism. On sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), A4E supports the 6% 2030 mandate if prices drop significantly, noting supply shortages and production timelines. Examples include Wizz Air’s 525,000-tonne SAF deal with Firefly from 2028 and KLM’s investment in a Dutch SAF factory.
Parallel challenges persist in air traffic management, with delays doubling over the past decade due to capacity and staffing in France, Spain, and Germany. Airport infrastructure constraints and rising charges further strain operations, as traffic rose 1.7% year-on-year in early 2026 despite regional dips.