The ACI EUROPE Regional Airports Conference & Exhibition (RACE) was successfully held in Dalaman, Türkiye, hosted by YDA Dalaman Airport, gathering key airport operators, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the continent. The event served as a vital forum for dialogue on the future of regional air connectivity, regulatory frameworks, and long-term financial sustainability — with Aviation Turkey Magazine honored to participate as the Media Partner.

The opening session featured remarks from high-profile speakers, including:

• Ella Soltani, Managing Director, To70 Belgium

• Yiğit Laçin, CEO, YDA Dalaman Airport

• Enes Çakmak, Director General, DHMI

• Andrea Andorno, CEO, SAGAT Torino Airport & Chair, ACI EUROPE Regional Airports Forum

• Olivier Jankovec, Director General, ACI EUROPE

The conference underscored the increasingly urgent economic and connectivity challenges facing Europe’s regional airports. While larger regional airports have rebounded strongly — recording a +11.7% rise in passenger numbers compared to 2019 — smaller airports are still grappling with a -35.1% traffic deficit, a reflection of structural market shifts and uneven airline strategies.

Olivier Jankovec: Urgent Policy Shift Needed to Support Regional Airports Amid Growing Pressures

In his keynote address, Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI EUROPE, painted a complex picture of the current state of regional aviation, emphasizing the mounting pressures regional airports face and the necessity for a strategic EU-level policy reset.

Current Situation (2025 YTD to February):

• Passenger demand remains resilient, especially in Southern and Eastern Europe and non-EU markets like Albania.

• Smaller regional airports are beginning to recover, yet remain -35% below pre-pandemic traffic levels.

• Airline capacity is increasing, but growth is normalizing — the post-pandemic surge has faded.

• Airfares are still 37% above 2019 levels (as of August 2024), although a peak may have been reached, especially for transatlantic routes.

Operational Challenges:

• Air traffic management (ATM) is under strain; 20% of European airspace is restricted due to the war in Ukraine.

• Delays are expected to increase by 20% this summer.

• Border control capacity remains a bottleneck, especially with the Schengen Entry/Exit System expected to launch this autumn.

Long-Term Trends and Strategic Risks:

• Growth in passenger traffic is forecast through 2028, but will slow due to rising climate compliance costs and regulatory burdens.

• The market faces volatility from geopolitical instability, shifting trade policies (especially from the U.S.), and worsening climate scenarios (potential 3°C increase by 2060).

• Risks are shifting from supply-side (aircraft availability, airline discipline) to demand-side factors like consumer confidence and the macro-economy.

• The potential decline of the transatlantic market could shift demand to other regions, though profitability risks remain.

Sector-Specific Financial Pressures:

• The dominance of Ultra-Low Cost Carriers (ULCCs) — particularly Ryanair and Wizz Air — continues to grow.

• These airlines are pushing airports to lower their charges, even as their own operating costs rise — €15 billion in additional costs from taxes and climate rules are expected.

• Europe’s airports are still financially fragile, burdened with €130 billion in COVID-era debt.

• Smaller regional airports are particularly affected due to high fixed costs, low economies of scale, and pronounced seasonality.

• Airport charges have dropped in real terms, while non-aeronautical revenues for airports handling under 1 million passengers remain below pre-COVID levels.

• Seasonality is intensifying, complicating investment planning and operational stability.

Investment & Decarbonization Needs:

• The European airport system requires €315 billion in capital expenditure by 2040 to fund modernization, digitalization, and decarbonization.

• Decarbonization is non-negotiable for the sector’s license to operate.

• Progress is being made through ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, with strong participation by regional airports, including DHMI airports in Türkiye.

Jankovec concluded with a call to action for policymakers, highlighting four critical priorities for the EU and national governments:

1. Extend Operating Aid Beyond 2027

Through the revision of EU Aviation State aid Guidelines, ensuring that smaller regional airports retain the right to receive vital operating support.

2. Launch an Ambitious EU Sustainable Transport Investment Plan

Including mechanisms like book & claim SAF accounting, dedicated use of ETS revenues for decarbonization, and funding for electrification and renewable integration at airports.

3. Abolish National Aviation Taxes

Which disproportionately harm regional connectivity and undermine aviation’s broader economic and social contributions.

4. Preserve and Expand Open Skies Agreements

Ensuring continued market access and resilience across the European air network.

Türkiye’s Strategic Role and Future Outlook

The event also emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s regional airports in achieving national goals, including the 2023 Tourism Strategy. Jankovec noted that Türkiye could benefit from:

• Liberalizing foreign carrier access by removing outdated restrictions.

• Allowing inflation-linked user charges, empowering airports to reinvest in infrastructure and service quality.

Yiğit Laçin, CEO of YDA Dalaman Airport, affirmed the economic and social importance of regional hubs:

“Regional airports are the backbone of connectivity and development for Türkiye’s underserved regions. To maintain their impact, we need policies that support long-term investment, talent retention, and infrastructure modernization.”

Andrea Andorno, in his remarks, highlighted the growing dependency on Ultra-Low Cost Carriers (LCCs), whose selective capacity deployment is leaving smaller regional airports behind. This summer, LCC seat capacity at smaller airports is still -27% below 2019 levels, while increasing by +29% at larger airports. In contrast, Full Service Carriers have drastically reduced their seat offerings at smaller airports by -45%