Aviation industry to EU: Clean Industrial Deal is only the first step
European aviation leaders urge the EU to build on the Clean Industrial Deal with a bold aviation industrial strategy to maintain global competitiveness during the net-zero transition.
On 26 February, 400 business leaders and industry representatives - including ASD Civil Aviation Director Vincent De Vroey - met in Antwerp to discuss the European Commission’s newly published Clean Industrial Deal (CID) with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was accompanied by VP Sejourné and Commissioner Hoekstra. They were joined by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele, alongside leaders from all industries that signed last year’s Antwerp Declaration.
One year after the launch of the Antwerp Declaration, industry leaders are calling on EU Heads of State to take urgent action to safeguard Europe’s industrial competitiveness while advancing the green transition.
Clean Industrial Deal
Europe’s aviation sector – represented by A4E, ACI EUROPE, ASD, CANSO Europe and ERA – welcomed the Clean Industrial Deal as a positive first step towards balancing industrial decarbonisation and economic competitiveness, but reiterated its call on the European Commission to go beyond and take concrete steps to safeguard the aviation industry’s competitiveness with a dedicated strategy and action plan.
The CID is yet another recognition of the need to support low-carbon fuels and charging infrastructure for aviation. But competitive aviation is about more than just fuels. The Destination 2050 roadmap outlines four key pillars to get aviation to net zero, including Sustainable Aviation Fuels, air traffic management (ATM) optimisation, new aircraft technology and economic measures. Each of these requires targeted support from policymakers. The Draghi Report has already proposed a suite of measures that now require urgent action from the Commission. While the sector awaits the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP), the Commission must act now to secure a more competitive and sustainable future for European aviation by:
- Recognising aviation’s strategic importance as a key driver of Europe’s economic growth with a comprehensive aviation strategy.
- Implementing an EU industrial strategy for Sustainable Aviation Fuels that accelerates cost reductions and scales up production.
- Delivering specific support mechanisms for the implementation of Fit for 55.
- Rolling out alternative financing mechanisms to support the sector’s transition.
- Supporting continued research and industrial scale up support to unlock next-generation aircraft and ATM technologies to maximise efficiency gains.
The Destination 2050 alliance, committed to climate neutral European aviation, sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 12 February, outlining proposals for concerted, multi-stakeholder efforts to make the transition to net-zero carbon aviation a reality.
The window for decisive action is closing. The EU must take the lead to ensure European aviation remains globally competitive throughout this transition. The time to act is now.
Read more
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D2050 Press Release
Clean Industrial Deal a First Step but Bolder Plan Needed to Defend European Aviation’s Competitiveness in Net Zero Transition. Published 26 February 2025.