EU Air Transport Policy: Implications on Airlines and Airports[Letecká dopravní politika EU a její dopady na letecké společnosti a letiště]

In the last 20 years, the aviation sector in Europe has undergone a revolution that would have been unthinkable without key measures taken at EU level. Up to the late 1980s, air transport was fully controlled by State governments and overregulated by rather rigid bilateral agreements and obsolete international conventions. Since then, progressively, the European Union became a leading force and a respected policy maker in the field of air transport. Being highly successful in liberalising the aviation sector in Member States, the EU took the opportunity to pursue its action further. Other important aspects - such as competition rules, traffic management, safety, security, airport capacity, environmental protection, passenger rights and external relations - were given similar attention. Much has been achieved over the past two decades, but what are the main gains and losses for the aviation stakeholders? This paper explores and analyses the impact of the EU Air Transport Policy on major industry actors: airlines and airports.