Introduction
Learlab s.r.l. in collaboration with Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung e. V. and EY Economic and Policy Advisory Services SRL have been commissioned by the Directorate General for Competition of the European Commission (DG COMP) to conduct an external study to support the Commission in its Review of 2014 Aviation Guidelines. . The external study will assist the Commission to evaluate the following issues:
To conduct the study, the Contractor will carry out online surveys meant to collect opinions and data from all relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry: airports, airlines, industry associations, technical bodies, granting authorities, member states, international organisations, etc. The collected information will be used to study the sector dynamics and identify possible options for the revisions of the 2014 Aviation Guidelines. To ensure an appropriate representation of the views and of the situation of different players in the industry, we want to achieve the highest participation possible from the aviation community. Therefore, your participation is extremely important.
Please note that, in parallel to the support study described, the Commission has completed a call for evidence in October 2024 and has launched a public consultation on 11 December 2024, with the aim to seek feedback from the market on the revision of the Aviation Guidelines. Please note that these initiatives are distinct from what the Contractor is doing. The Contractor will deal with some of the same topics but will do so in more detail, with the support of data and evidence, and will also address some additional topics that the Commission’s consultations do not consider. We therefore kindly ask you to participate in this survey, even if you have already provided your feedback in the context of the Commission's call for evidence and/or public consultation.
- with respect to operating aid, it is expected that some regional airports may remain unprofitable, and it must be decided whether or not support beyond 2027 should be possible;
- the relevance of start-up aid to airlines for connectivity, as well as the compatibility conditions for such aid;
- the evolution of competition between airlines and airports, including a potential update of the notion of catchment area;
- the suitability of the current State aid rules on investment aid to airports;
- whether any revised Aviation Guidelines should provide for rules to promote the greening of aviation to contribute to the achievement of the Green Deal objectives, or whether existing rules, such as the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG) are sufficient to this purpose.
To conduct the study, the Contractor will carry out online surveys meant to collect opinions and data from all relevant stakeholders in the aviation industry: airports, airlines, industry associations, technical bodies, granting authorities, member states, international organisations, etc. The collected information will be used to study the sector dynamics and identify possible options for the revisions of the 2014 Aviation Guidelines. To ensure an appropriate representation of the views and of the situation of different players in the industry, we want to achieve the highest participation possible from the aviation community. Therefore, your participation is extremely important.
Please note that, in parallel to the support study described, the Commission has completed a call for evidence in October 2024 and has launched a public consultation on 11 December 2024, with the aim to seek feedback from the market on the revision of the Aviation Guidelines. Please note that these initiatives are distinct from what the Contractor is doing. The Contractor will deal with some of the same topics but will do so in more detail, with the support of data and evidence, and will also address some additional topics that the Commission’s consultations do not consider. We therefore kindly ask you to participate in this survey, even if you have already provided your feedback in the context of the Commission's call for evidence and/or public consultation.
