European Commission regulators have opened a consultation process on airport financing, notably regarding the use of regional start-up aid to airlines.
The Commission is aiming to discover whether, as a result of changes in the aviation market, guidelines and regulations set out in 1994 and 2005 might need revising.
It states: "The air transport market has evolved dramatically in recent years: low-cost carriers have developed new and comprehensive business models linked to regional airports and have gained substantial market shares.
"At the same time, the former national carriers have almost all completed their restructuring process, consolidating their presence in Europe."
Assistance for airlines - particularly budget carriers - has been the subject of several legal cases, the Commission adds.
"The Commission has a significant number of complaints in the sector from the former flag carriers against the low-cost airlines, on the one hand, and from the latter against the former, on the other hand," it says.
Consultation will enable representatives from member states and stakeholders to give feedback on the two sets of guidelines, with a view to proposing revised rules by 2012 if necessary. The consultation remains open until 6 June.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news