European Regions Airline Association

The European Commission has opened a public consultation on the proposed regulatory approach for a revision of the SES Performance Scheme.  The consultation addresses the second reference period (RP2, starting 1 January 2015) and beyond. The closing date of the Consultation is 18 June 2012.

The European Commission Mobility and Transport Directorate has, via a set of online questionnaires, sought to obtain public consultation on the proposed regulatory approach for a revision of the Single European Sky [SES] Performance Scheme.  The performance scheme is a key element of the SES initiative, which aims at ensuring "more sustainable and better performing aviation".

Implementation of the performance scheme started on 1 January 2012 and was acknowledged as being an initial period of three years only (2012-2014).  The first reference period (RP1) addressed mainly the en route part of air navigation service (ANS) provision and focused target setting on en route capacity, environment and cost-efficiency.  Its aims were to bring early benefits to the industry, focussing on en route air navigation services, and facilitate lessons to be learned on the operation of the scheme before full coverage is achieved in RP2.

The proposed revision of the performance scheme in RP2 is driven by two main needs: first, to improve and reinforce the performance scheme and second, to extend the performance scheme to cover the full gate-to-gate scope, with target-setting in all four Key Performance Areas (KPA).

The first set of questions relates to the regulatory approach document (RA document) prepared by the Performance Review Body (PRB) at the request of the Commission.  It contains the PRB's advice on the development of the SES performance scheme in terms of substance, for application from the second reference period onwards (RP2, starting 1 January 2015).

There is a second set of questions in which the Commission seeks stakeholder opinion on additional performance and charging scheme-related subjects, beyond the PRB's proposed regulatory approach.

Members are urged to either complete the on-line questionnaire or submit comments to Robert Peel on or before the closing date of 18 June 2012.