A NUMBER of smaller European airports could face closure due to both the Iran war crisis and new entry rules being rolled out.
Experts have warned that regional airports are under threat due to mass cancellations and delays as a result of the fuel crisis and new European travel rules.
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The Airports Council of Europe (ACI Europe) said that regional airports face “nothing short of an existential threat” if flights continue to be cancelled.
In a release, ACI Europe stated: “The dramatic increase in jet fuel prices in Europe – peaking at more than $1800/ton (£1332/ton) earlier this month – is resulting in air fare increases and tight capacity management by airlines.
“Regional airports are the most exposed to the fallout of these adjustments, as demand on their routes is typically much more price-sensitive and price-elastic – and thus less profitable for airlines.
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“This means that when considering where to cut capacity, airlines are more likely to do so on routes serving regional airports, as shown by the recent decision by Lufthansa to shut down its regional subsidiary, CityLine.”
Olivier Jankovec, the director general of ACI Europe, added: “The current levels of jet fuel prices and the prospect of a new cost of living crisis mean that many regional airports across our continent are likely to face both a supply and demand shock.”
ACI Europe also revealed that issues could be made worse by the new Entry/Exit System (EES) that is now in place across Europe and “is set to wreak havoc at regional airports serving popular tourist destinations this summer“.
The body added that airports should be allowed to suspend the new system at any point, if airport queues become too long.
It also shared that “regional airports are part of Europe’s critical infrastructure” as they are responsible for 35 per cent of flights.
In order to ease the threat on regional airports, ACI Europe is calling to scrap national aviation taxes as well as keeping a safety net of air for smaller airports.