European aviation leaders have come together in Valencia for the 12^th edition of the ECAC/EU Dialogue, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable aviation. This key event is organised every three years since 1995, and this edition brought together 140 participants, including high-level aviation policymakers, airline and airport leaders, air navigation service providers, environmental stakeholders, aircraft manufacturers, aviation academics, representatives of financial institutions, as well as international and regional organisations. Participants gathered to address sustainability across social, environmental and economic dimensions, to develop a shared vision for a balanced, resilient, and responsible future for European aviation.

In his opening remarks, David Benito Astudillo, Director General of Civil Aviation for Spain, whose country holds the EU Presidency for the second half of 2023, highlighted the importance of the meeting. The ECAC/EU Dialogue is a pivotal moment for the European aviation sector, providing a platform to discuss and find solutions, and an opportunity for aviation leaders to steer the industry towards a more sustainable and responsible future. 

Alessio Quaranta, ECAC President and Director General of Civil Aviation for Italy, emphasised the role of connectivity as a catalyst for prosperity. He focused on aviation’s essential role in fostering social, cultural and economic opportunities by enabling the exchange of people, ideas and values within Europe and beyond. “Air transport is not merely about moving from one place to another; it is about delivering services. This is true whether air transport is connecting families and businesses; providing cultural, educational and leisure opportunities; or providing a lifeline to remote communities that otherwise could struggle to connect”, he said.

Filip Cornelis, Director of Aviation, DG MOVE, European Commission, added in concluding his intervention, he said that “collaboration is the key to achieving our shared goals".

For two days, during the three sessions of the Dialogue, high-level panellists from the industry and regulators, together with participants, stressed the importance of maintaining high-quality working conditions in the aviation sector and attracting and retaining diverse talents, fostering gender equality, and ensuring equal opportunities for all. They also committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainable aviation technologies, operations and infrastructure in alignment with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. They stressed the importance of collaboration with governments and industry stakeholders to increase the production, availability and uptake of sustainable aviation. Finally, they emphasised the need for regulatory support to ensure fair competition and connectivity for all European citizens, acknowledging that economic sustainability also involves mitigating the negative consequences of conflicts and wars on European aviation.

The main outcomes of the meeting were included in a statement that was adopted at the end of the Dialogue.

The integral version of the document (three pages) is attached to this AVIONEWS.