Elena Jaraíz and Nadine Braun Amaral represented Airlines International Representation in Europe (AIRE) at the first day of Connecting Europe Days 2026, organised by the European Commission at Brussels Airport.

The programme provided an opportunity to follow discussions on some of the key issues shaping the future of European aviation, including the EU’s aviation strategy, the competitiveness and resilience of the sector, and the evolving aviation security landscape.

Key topics discussed included:

• • The future of EU aviation strategy and competitiveness, including how Europe can strengthen the global competitiveness of its aviation and aeronautical industries.
  • The resilience and competitiveness of the European aviation sector in a rapidly evolving global context, with discussions addressing increasing international competition, supply-chain vulnerabilities, decarbonisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, innovation and the growing need for specialised skills.
  • Aviation security and resilience, including the need to strengthen preparedness and coordination in response to evolving threats such as cyber-attacks, drones, jamming and spoofing, as well as the growing importance of dual-use capabilities.

For AIRE, these discussions are particularly relevant as Europe works to maintain a competitive, resilient, innovative and well-connected aviation sector in an increasingly complex global environment.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for AIRE to follow the latest policy discussions and engage with representatives from the European institutions and the wider aviation community.