Regional airports constitute the core of the European transport network, providing connectivity and social cohesion to Europe’s regions at an affordable cost for society. They played a key role in the recovery of the European tourism and hospitality sectors post-COVID-19 as most long-haul markets remained closed until the end of 2021.

Regional airports compete with airports across Europe to attract footloose and agile airlines. They do not enjoy the economies of scale of their larger counterparts and tend to be highly seasonal, yet they must comply with the exact same set of costly regulations and increasingly dogmatic policies (such as short-haul flight bans) that challenge their very existence.

Reason must prevail and incentives put in place to facilitate the transition of the European aviation sector to Net Zero by 2050. Regional airports have a key role to play on the path to Net Zero aviation as this is where electric and hybrid flying will start.

Put simply: European regions do not need dogmas, they need incentives to achieve transformational changes. One size does not fit all.

1. Introduction
2. Regional Airports in Europe
3. Taking the Pulse of Regional Airports
4. Twin Challenge: Recovery and Decarbonisation in a Changed Landscape
5. New Look & New Recipe: What Regulatory and Policy Framework do Regional Airports Need?