Regional airports, low-cost airlines and interregional connectivity

Since 2001, when it published a report on regional aviation, the Assembly of European Regions has committed itself to defend and promote the role of regional airports as a tool for regional economic development and citizen mobility.

The exponential development of low-cost carriers in Europe, often choosing small regional airports, has allowed for the creation of a new network of interregional air connections. The decision by the European Commission to challenge the state subsidies received by Ryanair in Charleroi Airport raised deep concerns throughout European regions. On this occasion, the AER expressed the fear that, by insisting on strict application of competition rules, the European Commission may seriously infringe the ability of the Regions to organise their transport services and therefore define coherent territorial development strategies.