WE MUST SUPPORT EUROPE'S AIRLINES URGES CONSERVATIVE MEP DURING ASH CLOUD DEBATE
Posted, May 19, 2010 @ 00:00
WE MUST SUPPORT EUROPE'S AIRLINES URGES CONSERVATIVE MEP DURING ASH CLOUD DEBATE
Conservative Transport spokesman in the European Parliament and aviation expert Jaqueline Foster MEP urged member states to pledge financial support to European airlines in the wake of the volcanic ash cloud.
The disruption to the airline industry has been 'catastrophic' said Mrs Foster during a debate in the European Parliament last night.
In a speech to MEPs in Strasbourg Mrs Foster said,
"In addition to the estimated catastrophic Two Billion Euro losses suffered by European Airlines as a result of the volcanic ash cloud, more than 100,000 flights have been cancelled; around 12 million passengers have not able to travel as planned; goods and cargo have been delayed or not transported at all; businesses, large and small, have been affected and airports have suffered massive financial losses.
"Air transport is enormously important for the European economy and we depend on a thriving and efficient air transport industry where safety for crew and passengers is the first prerogative.
"As such, I applaud the decision of the European Commission to respond decisively following the compulsory grounding of the European air transport sector. The Commission has recognised the need not only to consider financial compensation but also the necessity to speed up the implementation of SESAR (single european sky) measures.
"As a general rule I believe that states should not artificially support business. Risk is part of running a business. However, these are exceptional circumstances. We have not seen such sustained disruption to this industry with such enormous financial losses since 9/11. Notwithstanding the financial difficulties currently facing all Member States, I would urge them to back plans to support an industry which simply cannot sustain further losses. The question now is what can and should be done in future to deal with such crises better ?
"As European policy makers we have a responsibility to develop a viable long-term strategic vision for aviation in the EU. I believe that we should support the establishment of measures to improve risk management, settling justified compensation claims without distortion of competition, as well as promoting well-balanced, cost-effective structural reforms."