The Airports Council International (ACI) Europe is advocating for a boost in the budget of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) specifically dedicated to transportation, highlighting the importance of supporting airports and the wider air transport sector.
Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, has emphasized the need for greater EU financial backing to facilitate the sector’s transition towards decarbonisation by 2050. He underscored the unique challenges faced by modes of transport, such as aviation, which produce emissions that are more difficult to mitigate, necessitating enhanced policy and financial support.
A joint study conducted by SEO Amsterdam Economics (SEO) and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) has revealed that achieving complete decarbonisation of air transport by 2050 will require funding exceeding €820 billion.
ACI Europe highlighted the urgency of addressing the investment requirements of airports, particularly considering their limited support during the global pandemic compared to other stakeholders. Despite facing high fixed costs, many airports had to remain operational, leading to significant accumulations of debt. Currently, the accumulated debt stands at nearly €40 billion higher than pre-pandemic levels. Consequently, there has been a considerable reduction in capital expenditure, with airport investments slashed by €27 billion compared to initial plans for the years 2022-2024. With projected financing needs amounting to €360 billion by 2040, Europe is on the brink of an imminent airport investment crisis.
