European Regions Airline Association

European Regions Airline Association
Name	European Regions Airline Association
Abbreviation	ERAA
Formation	1980s
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	London
Region served	Europe
Membership	Regional airlines, lessors, manufacturers, airports

European Regions Airline Association The European Regions Airline Association is a trade association representing regional airlines, principals, suppliers and allied organisations across Europe and neighbouring regions. Founded in the 1980s to support short-haul carriers and feeder services, the association has engaged with airline executives, regulators and airport authorities to promote connectivity, sustainability and safety. Its membership spans carriers, leasing companies, aircraft manufacturers, airport operators and service providers involved in regional aviation.

History

The association grew out of post-deregulation shifts in the European Union aviation market during the 1980s and 1990s, when carriers such as British Airways, Air France, Deutsche Lufthansa and smaller regional operators reconfigured short-haul networks. Early activity intersected with policy developments at the European Commission, deliberations at the International Civil Aviation Organization, and debates around the Chicago Convention. Key historical moments included engagement during the liberalisation episodes leading to the single aviation market, interactions with national aviation authorities like the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), and responses to crises such as the 9/11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–present). The association has worked alongside aviation stakeholders including the International Air Transport Association, airport bodies like Airports Council International, and manufacturers such as ATR (aircraft), Embraer, and Bombardier Aerospace to shape regional connectivity. Over decades, it has adapted to technological change from turboprops to regional jets and to market shifts driven by airlines including Ryanair and easyJet that reshaped European short-haul competition.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises regional airlines, aircraft lessors, airports, ground handlers, maintenance organisations, and suppliers including avionics firms and fuel providers. Member airlines have included independent carriers, franchise partners of legacy airlines such as KLM franchisees, and turboprop operators linked with groups like IAG (airline group). The association is governed by an elected board drawn from CEOs and senior executives from member organisations, supported by specialist committees on operations, safety, commercial affairs, and sustainability. Secretariat functions are based in London, interacting with pan-European institutions such as the European Aviation Safety Agency and national regulators like Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile in France. Strategic partnerships have been maintained with industry organisations including Flight Safety Foundation and training providers such as CAE Inc..

Activities and Services

The association provides networking, market intelligence, and supply-chain forums for members including sales directors, fleet planners, and route development teams. Services include benchmarking reports, commercial working groups that liaise with aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and engine-makers such as Pratt & Whitney, and procurement consortia addressing fuel contracts and ground services at airports including Heathrow Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. It publishes newsletters and analysis on traffic trends, slot allocation at hubs like Frankfurt Airport, and fleet renewal strategies involving types such as the ATR 72 and the Embraer E-Jet family. Members access advisory support on licensing, crew rostering, and wet-lease arrangements with operators including SunExpress and regional subsidiaries of groups like Vueling.

Advocacy and Policy

The association advocates on behalf of regional carriers to institutions in Brussels and national capitals, engaging with the European Commission, the European Parliament, and agencies such as Eurocontrol on airspace management, slot regulation, and competition policy. Policy priorities have included fair access to airport slots under regulations stemming from the 1993 EU aviation package, incentives for fleet modernisation consistent with European Green Deal objectives, and measures to support connectivity for peripheral regions served by members. It has submitted position papers on state aid rules, taxation of aviation fuel, and passenger rights frameworks under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, working alongside stakeholders including Transport Malta and regional development agencies.

Events and Training

The association organises annual conferences and forums that attract senior figures from airlines, airports, manufacturers, and finance houses including leasing firms like AerCap and GECAS. Events feature panels on network planning, commercial strategy, and sustainability with participation from executives at Finnair, Austrian Airlines, and independent regional carriers. It hosts training courses and workshops in simulator centres and classrooms run by partners such as FlightSafety International and Lufthansa Flight Training covering topics from crew resource management to ground operations. Smaller regional symposiums address route development for peripheral communities supported by entities like the European Committee of the Regions.

Safety and Regulatory Initiatives

Safety has been a core concern, with committees focused on operations, maintenance, and emergency response collaborating with regulators including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and national authorities such as the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). Initiatives have included dissemination of best practices for fatigue management adhering to rules inspired by Regulation (EC) No 83/2014, advocacy on continuing airworthiness for regional fleets, and promotion of safety management systems aligned with ICAO standards. The association has worked with maintenance organisations like SR Technics and avionics suppliers to address reliability and regulatory compliance, and has coordinated with airport rescue and firefighting services at airports from Edinburgh Airport to Madrid–Barajas Airport to improve incident preparedness.

Category:Aviation trade associations