This report is indeed a first step and we now need the Commission and Member States to take on board these demands and come forward with concrete actions to safeguard the aviation and aerospace industries and the estimated 10 million jobs that they supply."

Today, industriAll European Trade Union, took part in the handover of the 'Aviation Round Table Report on the Recovery of European Aviation' to European Commission Executive Vice-President Mrs Margarethe Vestager and European Commissioner for Transport Mrs Adina-Ioana Vălean.

The report, to which industriAll Europe is a signatory, calls for a targeted European Aviation Relief Programme as well as an EU Pact for Sustainable Aviation. The European Commission plans to release a new aviation strategy in early 2021 and European stakeholders insist that their views and demands included in the report form part of the new European strategy for the sector. 

Isabelle Barthès, Deputy General Secretary for industriAll Europe, said:
‘’A key demand of our European aerospace recovery plan 'Flying into recovery', was for European stakeholders to come together and fight for the future of the European aerospace sector. This report is indeed a first step and we now need the Commission and Member States to take on board these demands and come forward with concrete actions to safeguard the aviation and aerospace industries and the estimated 10 million jobs that they supply." 

‘’COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the entire aviation supply chain and we continue to highlight the specific challenges facing the aerospace sector and the need to safeguard this high-tech, high-value industry often thought of as the ‘’jewel in the crown’’ of European industry. With production cuts and cancellations in new orders, we need new measures such as fleet renewal schemes, to support the construction of new greener aircraft to keep jobs and competences in Europe. Our message to the Commission and Member States is clear, invest in our industry and invest in our people.’’ 

The European Aviation Round Table brings together European associations collectively representing the entire European aviation sector, including airlines, airports, trade unions, air navigation service providers, the European aeronautical industry, consumer organisations, environmental non-governmental organisations, service providers, express and cargo carriers and express carriers. These stakeholders have come together because the gravity of the crisis threatening aviation calls for unprecedented action. 

Aviation Round Table official press release: PDF, Word

IndustriAll Europe's aerospace recovery plan: EN, FR, DE
Future EU Pact for Skills for the aeronautics sector 

Contact: Andrea Husen-Bradley (press and communication), Elspeth Hathaway (policy adviser)