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Air transport associations demand action to cut delays at EU airports

VARIOUS air transport organizations have urged European Union member states to implement measures aimed at reducing widespread delays at EU airports that have increased drastically after the recent implementation of an EU regulation intended to boost security for flights departing from the EU, according to an open letter to the European Council of Ministers.

IATA, Airlines for Europe, the Airlines International Representation in Europe, the European Regions Airline Association and Airport Council International Europe all signed on to the letter "to preserve connectivity at EU hub airports."

According to the open letter, delayed flights related to border control issues rose by 97 per cent year on year between April and June, after the new regulation was introduced, reported New York's Air Cargo World.

IATA estimates that processing times under the new regulation have risen by 20 seconds per passenger for an average increase of an hour per flight, and delayed passenger flights equal delayed shipments of belly cargo.

The organisations recommended EU member states increase the number of border officers and automated border control gates to deal with airport congestion. They also suggested that member states collecting advance passenger information data fully utilize the advance verification to increase border check efficiency.