ARC's statement on the relationships between airports and regions

In a context of increasing globalization of trade, of rising international flows of goods and people, and resulting of global rise in air traffic, international airports have become strategics assets for the development and attractiveness of nations.

What is true at national level is also true at the more local scale of the areas surrounding an international airport, and whose own urban, demographic, social, economic and environmental is closely linked to the presence of such major infrastructures. These territories, whose contours, perimeters and profiles can be very different from one geographical context to another, but which have in common that their destiny is linked to the presence of an international airport, can be referred to as “airport regions.”

All airport regions are thus engaged in multiple interactions with their airport. Some of these interactions are positive: for instance, the airport activity generates economic benefits for the surrounding areas in terms of jobs, local taxation, of notoriety, of transport network. Conversely, airport activity also generates negative externalities of the surrounding environment in terms of air pollution, noise pollution, traffic congestion, agriculture land consumption, urban development, etc.

Airport regions are generally characterized by a complex and fragmented institutional landscape that involves multiple stakeholders, both public and private, with differing and sometimes competing interests, values and policies on many issues and across a variety of geographical scales.

The challenge of governance in airport areas addresses two main issues:

• manage the institutional complexity and fragmentation of actors, and regulate the conflicts between the airport and the surrounding areas that are positively and/or negatively affected by the airport activities

• build a shared vision for the long-term development of the airport area and fostering a strategic alignment and cooperation (“coalitions” or “alliances”) among the stakeholders involved.

Common to these two issues is the need of governance arrangements that foster mutual trust and cohesiveness between all the stakeholders.

Institutional complexity lies “in the crossfire of differing ambitions” from numerous players that have diverging and sometimes competing interests, values and priorities, as well as overlapping competencies and jurisdictional boundaries.

Relatively few airport areas have long-term experience with governance structures, therefore there are not so many available good practices. However, as more and more airport areas around the world are experimenting with the complexity, we see the emergence of governance initiatives and innovations that, rather than reducing complexity, try to adapt to it, to cope with it.

In view of all these challenges, more and more local / regionals authorities around the world feel the need to acquire and share experiences and good practices with their peers from other airport locations, in order to develop their own airport are in a more sustainable way from all points of view and 26 years ago they committed themselves with the creation of Airport Regions Council (ARC).

Based on these facts, its long experience & knowledge and being strived to meet the interests of all stakeholders involved, in order a better future for all, ARC states:

• Our commitment to the European objectives, as we are all united in diversity. Therefore, our collective strategy is built-up with local touches from our members coming from all over Europe.

• Our wish to achieve the Lisbon Agenda objectives, making Europe “the most competitive and Dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion”

• ARC members highly believe in the subsidiarity principle, but would like to recal that the principle doesn't stop at EU or at state level. Local and regional authorities are the nearest democratic entities to population living near by airports

Consequently, ARC:

• Demands EU institutions to work to bring together regions and airports in order to facilitate the interaction and cooperation on all levels to work together to improve residents' quality of life, to get a sustainable development of the airport & aviation activities. We believe this is the only way to develop an EU aviation&airport sector robust and sustainable and the best way to work to rebuild it after Covid-19 pandemic impacts.

• Asks all aviation & airport stakeholders to work together with EU institutions to develop a common strategic vision and a roadmap for the sector including the vision of the territories where airports are situated.