European Airports warn proposed EU state aid rules could harm regional connectivity

ACI EUROPE has urged the European Commission to revise its proposed new aviation State aid guidelines, arguing that the draft rules could weaken regional air connectivity, increase economic disparities between regions, and undermine territorial cohesion across Europe.

In its response to the Commission’s public consultation, ACI EUROPE warned that the proposed framework would significantly restrict financial support available to regional airports and new air services, potentially leaving many regions less connected and less economically competitive.

The association highlighted three main concerns:

Operating Aid Restrictions for Smaller Airports

The draft guidelines would limit operating aid for airports handling between 500,000 and 1 million passengers annually to a five-year period and introduce additional conditions for receiving support.

ACI EUROPE argues that many smaller regional airports face structural challenges—including seasonal traffic fluctuations, airline consolidation, inflationary pressures, and limited economies of scale—that make long-term financial self-sufficiency difficult. The organisation says independent economic studies, including research commissioned by the European Commission itself, support this assessment.

Reduced Investment Aid for Medium-Sized Airports

The proposal would end investment aid for airports handling more than 3 million passengers annually and impose stricter conditions on aid below that threshold.

ACI EUROPE contends that many regional airports require substantial investment to upgrade infrastructure, improve safety and cybersecurity, expand capacity, adapt to climate change, and meet increasingly demanding regulatory requirements. It argues that support should remain available for airports handling up to 5 million passengers per year because private financing is often difficult to secure for such projects.

Elimination of Start-Up Aid for New Routes

The draft rules would also abolish start-up aid for airlines launching new routes.

According to ACI EUROPE, this could make it harder for regions to attract new air services, limiting opportunities to diversify and strengthen their connectivity with the rest of Europe and beyond.

Broader Economic and Political Concerns

ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec warned that weakening regional airports could have consequences beyond aviation. He argued that airports often serve as critical infrastructure supporting employment, tourism, investment, public services, and access to the European Single Market.

The association maintains that a State aid framework that reduces support for regional airports risks isolating peripheral regions, weakening local economies, and reinforcing perceptions that European policymaking is increasingly disconnected from regional needs.

The European Commission is currently consulting stakeholders before finalising the new State aid framework, which will determine the conditions under which Member States can support airports and air services in the coming years.