„You Are Not Alone“

Seminar ”Regional Economic Development and Air Access to

Heathrow and Gatwick”,

London, May 4, 2004

Hartmut Beyer, SEAPLANE Project Co-ordination,

UNICONSULT Universal Transport Consulting GmbH, Hamburg

Why am I here… ?

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• UNICONSULT is a transport consulting company, engaged, i.a., in air transport

• Contributed to the SEABIRD project (airports BSR)

• Co-ordinate the SEAPLANE Project on behalf of EU Regions (i.a. objective 1 and 2 areas)

• The Highland Council including Inverness Airport (HIAL) are in the focus of one SEAPLANE project activity

All project partners (regions) were/ are looking for improved accessibility by air

The SEAPLANE Project (1)

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• 13 regional authorities of • 6 countries brought in• 21 airports, • 7 airlines• Budget 1,4 mEuro• execution 2002-2005

SEAPLANE project’s aim:Development of regions by strengthening the air transport network and its airports

EU INTERREG III B ( NSR), objectives i.a.:economic and social cohesion (requires improved accessibility of peripheral regions), sustainable (economic) development, ...

The SEAPLANE Project (2)

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Objectives• To improve the regional airports’ efficiency, economic sustainability to fulfil

their regional spatial, ecological and social-economic function

• To identify new passenger market potentials and to support the implementation of air travel needs to and from peripheral areas and implement new air routes for better accessibility of regions,

• To develop concepts for implementation of EU airport safety and security requirements

• To improve the trans-national co-operation and information exchange between region’s, airport’s and airline’s representatives

• To analyse interdependencies between air transport and the region’s socio-economic and spatial structure

Output: SEAPLANE Resolution

The SEAPLANE Resolution (1)

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Conclusions out of the SEAPLANE Project

1 Regional airports constitute an important element in regional economic development as they contribute added value to regional economies located in peripheral regions.

2 Regional airports provide the crucial infrastructure necessary to secure the lifeline air services and to ensure a region’s accessibility to and from national and international economic centres is maintained.

3 Linking airports of peripheral regions to national and international network airports with sufficient frequency to offer suitable interlining opportunities facilitates the EU policy objectives of social and economic cohesion, spatial development, and improvement of regional competitiveness.

4 The current process of slot allocation at congested EU national and international network airports hinders the retention and development of air services to and from peripheral regions at adequate levels of frequency and service, and at acceptable schedules.

The SEAPLANE Resolution (2)

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Request to establish policies for the implementation of following measures

1. Amendment of the existing slot allocation rules at co-ordinated EU national and international network airports to ensure that existing services to peripheral regional airports can be retained and developed, and new (or previously served) routes encouraged to operate.

2. Revision of the rules for Public Service Obligations (PSO) to ensure the continuity of regional air services to peripheral areas

3. The provision of start-up aid, such as is provided by route development funds, for the inauguration of new regional air routes from peripheral regions, including access to network airports, and for promoting non-road and inter modal transport links

4. The development and monitoring of EU policies to ensure the provision of sufficient runway capacity and the optimum use of existing runways at European network airports in order to secure and increase access for existing or future regional air services to peripheral regional airports.

The SEAPLANE Resolution (3)

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Resolution

13 regional authorities

EC DG TREN, Direction F, Airport Policy

DG Regio

EU Aviation Associations

EU Political Transport Institutions

EU Political Institutions

MEP

EU Parliament

CPMR CoR NSC

AEAACIERA

April 04

Sep 04

Example: Use of PSO at Rostock-Laage Airport, Region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (D)

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• Objective 1 area: ‘developing’ economic power, low accessibility, high unemployment rate,..

• Initiative from airport and regional companies towards regional Ministry for Economy

• RLG-FRA with good pax potential but slot restricted,

• alternative route RLG-MUC was tendered in 2002, Cirrus Airline (Team Lufthansa) won

• 3 mEuro for two years, prolongation required in 2004

• results: good start, today challenges due to low cost carriers serving Berlin-Munich (20’ -> 16’ pax p.a.)

One Idea….

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• INTERREG III C project idea “EUROPLANE”

• similar like SEAPLANE (involves Regional Authorities, Airports, Airlines)

• focus on: (i) airports in peripheral EU regions, (ii) interdependencies airport-

region, (iii) airport business development

...to remind the EU Commission about their responsibility towards peripheral regions by using their EU INTERREG III C Program

Peripheral

Regions in Europe

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