BRUSSELS – The European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) welcomes the European Commission’s inclusion of the ReFuelEU Aviation revision in its 2027 Work Programme. This presents an important opportunity to address the practical implementation challenges facing regional airlines.
ERAA urges the Commission to prioritise the ReFuelEU Aviation revision, scheduled for Q2 2027, and to bring forward targeted improvements as soon as possible. The association has already put forward concrete recommendations to address implementation challenges and stands ready to work with the Commission to turn them into timely, concrete changes.
The programme also includes wider initiatives that could support regional aviation and connectivity:
- The planned wider transport simplification package, which may reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens.
- The intended withdrawal of the Green Claims Directive proposal, that would also help avoid additional compliance costs for airlines.
- A “right to stay” strategy in Q1 2027, which would improve regions’ competitiveness and development, notably through transport connectivity.
- A Pact against gold-plating, with greater transparency on national additions to EU law.
Montserrat Barriga, ERAA’s Director General, stated:
“Regional airlines need policies that support their ability to invest in decarbonisation while maintaining the services European communities depend on. We welcome the Commission’s simplification agenda, but it must now deliver changes that address the operational difficulties, administrative burdens and unnecessary costs that regional airlines face.”
ERAA will continue to work with EU policymakers to turn these plans into practical results, so that regional airlines can stay competitive, progressively decarbonise and keep Europe’s regions connected.