Airports and lobbying Not if, but how, and when

Airports and lobbying Not if, but how, and when June 2006

Monitoring potential changes to law and regulations Ensuring makers of new rules and regulations understand issues, and impact of changes Proactive intervention with regulators Ensuring new rules are appropriate Minimising unintended consequences of changes Often, regulators themselves struggle to understand Inter-connectedness of industry Implications of changes Impact of actions and non-action Maintaining a presence – share of consideration Airports cannot up-grade Lobbying

Historically, ‘aviation’ = ‘airlines’ Those days are gone Each part of air transport has own requirements/needs/goals Airlines see the world in a particular way IATA, AEA, ALTA have particular agenda That is often in conflict with airports National, regional and international issues ACI does a good job – but lone voice Needs support from members Need an integrated, complementary agenda Watching out for YOUR position in a global system Each airport has its own, independent position Why airports need to lobby

Slots Charges Environment/Air Traffic Control State Aid ‘Natural Monopoly’ Fallacy Issues

‘Use it or lose it’ rule freeze: Europe needs education Who makes slots? Who owns slots? If slots are tradable – why should airlines alone benefit? Slots are an issue of capacity Need to be seen as part of wider debate Role too for ANSPs Airlines will never accept this Intelligent slot regulatory regime will provide incentives for all players Slots

Charges debate focuses on stopping ‘monopoly pricing’ ACI – Europe able to bring some sense to EU debate Limit on size of airports affected Need for intelligent consultation No decision on single/dual till Charges are always a complex debate Every airport is different Airlines assume that airports are not businesses Therefore a need to lobby on true nature of modern airports Each airport is different Each airport has to make its own point Can also join with airlines to make appropriate changes Charges

Role of airports not well understood Significant role to play Part of capacity debate Runway/run-off areas/ramp/taxi-way all relevant ANSP connection Gate-to-gate implies airports are involved Access links Funding available This is a global issue with regional implications And a local focus Airports need to engage now on this Environment

SES/ATC system and capacity - big issue All acknowledge need to work ‘gate-to-gate’ That involves airports Work now on ATC – when delays arise All will blame the airports Must get in front of this argument A huge role to play regionally and nationally Need facts and language Build bridges with regulator, ANSP and airlines Air Traffic Control

Rules on what is, and is not State Aid change Reflecting political issues Economic reality Clearly, some aid is State Aid But not all Recent subtle changes of emphasis Scope for airports to shape debate Complex area, but not impossible Need good, pro-active view State Aid

It is easy to let this fallacy rule IATA in print that this is case MUST NOT – will impact all regulations No market based solutions for monopolies Only more regulations Airports are not monopolies Look at Ciudad Real LCC example shows what can be done Need a competitive regulatory framework Good for airports, airlines, and passengers The ‘natural monopoly’ fallacy

Airports have roles and positions to put forward Need to know what is likely to change Try to stop ill-informed rules and regulations Try to be sure that actions fit within the rules Your position is part of the industry position But not always the same as the industry position Getting the right regulation: Can have value Slots State Aid Can make sure obligations are balanced: Environment ATC Airports are not natural monopolies – so must behave like their competitors Conclusion

Aviation Advocacy Sarl Rue de la Gare 17 1260 Nyon Switzerland Phone: + 41 22 361 23 63 info@aviationadvocacy.aero www.aviationadvocacy.aero

Airports and lobbying Not if, but how, and when