ERA attends Thessaloniki Forum of Airport Charges meeting

19 September 2023: ERA attended the 18th Plenary meeting of Thessaloniki Forum of Airport Charges on 7 September, organised by the European Commission (DG MOVE). Two working papers – one on the Independent Supervisory Authority (ISA) role and powers and one on environmental modulation – were discussed amongst participants.

Most of the discussions were focussed on the appropriateness of a CO2 modulation. During the meeting, ERA expressed its support to the general conclusions of the WP i.e., that modulating airport charges according to CO2 is not an effective tool for reducing CO2 emissions from aviation, stressing that such a charge would be very difficult to control and implement given that CO2 is – by definition – a global pollution where appropriate schemes must cover the entire flight and the global air network to have a real impact on the CO2 reduction.

ERA also invited the Forum to initiate discussions on the future position of new green aircraft – electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft – in the current system of airport charges which was welcomed by the drafting ISAs.

​Both papers have been circulated among IAG-ESG airline representatives over the past weeks.