The ERA Board, led by the association’s new President Andrew Kelly, met today in Frankfurt to address key issues affecting ERA’s members and the wider European aviation industry.

EU261 passenger rights regulation, Brexit, EU679 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), pilot shortages, safety and security developments and the CORSIA implementation are just some of the significant challenges high on the agenda for the association this year, says the board.

The ERA (European Regions Airline Association*) Board is elected by the association’s 50 airline members, 20 airport members and 121 aviation supplier and manufacturer members and works on their behalf to protect the interests of Europe’s aviation sector. Consisting of strong industry knowledge and expertise, its skilled and influential board members oversee and guide the work of the association.

The focus of the first board meeting of 2018, led by the association’s new President Andrew Kelly and with the new ERA Director General Montserrat Barriga in attendance, was to tackle pertinent issues such as EU261, Brexit, GDPR which comes into force in May and the CORSIA implementation – airlines have to submit plans on monitoring their emissions later this year.

Montserrat Barriga, ERA’s Director General says: “Today’s board meeting to highlight the key challenges for ERA’s members and to set the agenda for ERA’s policy and technical priorities was extremely productive. The guidance the ERA Board provides to the association ensures that members’ concerns are understood by Europe’s senior regulators and policymakers and reflected in legislation that promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous airline market. Our message is clear: aviation is essential to the wellbeing and growth of Europe and ERA is here to protect its future.”

The next board meeting will take place in Vienna on 17 April, ahead of the association’s annual Regional Airline Conference on 18–19 April.