European Commission
European Commission

Over the last 20 years, due to the creation of a single market for aviation in the European Union, the economic and regulatory landscape of air transport has undergone revolutionary changes. All players of the air transport industry (customers, airlines, airports and employees) have benefited from new routes and airports, greater choice, lower prices and better overall quality of service.

However, airlines still have less commercial freedom when flying to countries outside the EU, and passengers have less choice. International aviation has traditionally been governed by bilateral agreements between individual countries, restricting the number of airlines on the routes concerned, the number of flights and the possible destinations.

To overcome these limitations, the EU is extending its aviation policy beyond its borders. First, any bilateral agreements that are not in line with the freedom of operation deriving from the single market need to be revised to ensure legal certainty and to put all EU airlines on an equal footing for flights to countries outside the EU. Second, the EU is working to establish by 2010 a common aviation area with neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean and to the east. Third, the EU is setting up open aviation areas with other key international partners. Closer international relations will not only open markets, but also allow the EU to ensure high standards of safety and security in international air transport and to work with others more effectively to address the impact of aviation on the environment.