Nicosia, Cyprus. Europe’s regional air connectivity remains under pressure, and island states such as Cyprus risk being disproportionately affected by rising costs and rigid regulations, according to the European Regions Airline Association.
In an interview with the Cyprus Mail, the association said Cyprus illustrates why European aviation policies must reflect the realities facing islands and remote regions.
Regional aviation role
ERA, which represents more than 50 airlines and over 200 companies across the aviation sector, including manufacturers, airports, suppliers and aviation service providers, said regional aviation plays a fundamental role in supporting social cohesion, territorial equality and economic growth across Europe.
Operating conditions
The association said regional carriers operate in conditions that differ significantly from those faced by major network airlines.
Profit margins typically range between 1 and 4 per cent, fleets usually comprise between three and 40 aircraft, and most operators fly aircraft with between 19 and 120 seats.
Route dependence
Many of these airlines operate short-haul routes with relatively low passenger volumes, including public service obligation routes, while ERA members are the sole operators on more than 1,000 routes across Europe.
According to the association, these routes provide an essential year-round link for smaller communities and regional airports and also feed passengers into larger hubs.
Fragile recovery
ERA said the overall state of regional air connectivity remains fragile, with traffic levels still below those recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than ten regional airlines have also ceased operations because of what the association described as heavy regulatory and financial burdens.
“What regional airlines are facing today is not a single challenge, but a convergence of pressures,” the association said.
