Today, Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE) took part in the event “An Agenda for Competitiveness, Prosperity and Resilience”, organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA).

Nadine Braun represented AIRE at the meeting, which brought together key stakeholders from across industry and policymaking to discuss how Europe can advance its climate objectives while safeguarding industrial competitiveness — a particularly relevant challenge for the aviation sector.

Key takeaways from the stakeholder discussions

• • • Energy prices and market integration

Participants highlighted the need for a more predictable and affordable energy environment. In particular, the call for a common European electricity market was underlined as a key enabler for the scaling up of synthetic fuels in aviation.

• • • Competitiveness and Investment

While climate action is a clear priority, the transition must also be economically viable. Stakeholders agreed that climate policy, if not carefully balanced, could undermine industrial competitiveness. In the case of aviation, this underscores the importance of:

• • • • Clear and coherent regulatory frameworks.
      • Effective de-risking mechanisms.
      • Investment incentives to support the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), hydrogen technologies, and next-generation aircraft.
    • Access to finance

It was noted that future financing conditions will increasingly be tied to climate mitigation and adaptation criteria. While this shift supports global decarbonisation efforts, it also raises important questions regarding the competitiveness of internationally operating sectors such as aviation.

A strategic perspective for aviation

The main conclusion for the aviation sector is clear: investment in the climate transition must go hand in hand with competitiveness. For air transport, the challenge lies in aligning regulation, finance, and public perception in order to:

• • Accelerate decarbonisation
  • Ensure continued affordability for passengers
  • Maintain global competitiveness

AIRE welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this essential dialogue and remains committed to supporting a balanced, industry-informed transition to a sustainable and competitive future for European aviation.