DAY ONE - 30th November 2022

All times in Central European Time (CET / UTC+1 / Berlin/Paris/Vienna/Rome)

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9:00 - 10:15 Open Remarks and Keynotes

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10:15 - 10:45 Coffee Break

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10:45 - 11:45  Session 1: Setting the stage: How have the past three years impacted the aviation industry? 

The past three years have been extremely challenging for the aviation sector. Before the longer-term effect of the crisis is considered, it is important to identify the extent of the damage already done.

• What is the extent of the hit taken by the industry? Is it reversible?

• What problems do companies face concerning the fast recovery of the traffic?  

• What has been the role of governments in the crisis?

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11:45 - 12:45 Session 2: How should governments rethink their aviation policy in a post-crisis world?

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This session, organised by the International Transport Forum at the OECD (ITF), will gather government officials and regulators who will discuss the progress made so far, and formulate what advice from the expert community would be most helpful in addressing the challenges at hand.

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The deep impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the aviation industry necessitated government support to airlines and airports. As the world emerges from the pandemic, governments need to rethink their aviation policies in light of the changes that have taken place in the sector. In particular:

• What role should governments play in the sector’s recovery? Can the benefits of market liberalisation, achieved over the last 30 years, be preserved?

• Are we prepared for the next crisis?

• How can governments mitigate the negative impacts of future crises with a coordinated approach to dealing with cross-border travel?

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12:45 - 14:00 Lunch Break

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14:00 - 14:45 Session 3 Martin Kunz Lecture: Barry Humphreys, The Regulation of Air Transport: From Protection to Liberalisation (and Back Again?)

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14:45-16:00 Session 4: Airlines After the Pandemic

The airline industry had relatively good financial standing at the beginning of the pandemic. However, the impact of the past three years has been devastating, with airlines able to survive enormous financial losses only with the help of governments, shareholder bail-outs, and increased borrowing. This session will aim at answering the following questions:

• Is this the end of liberalisation in air transport?

• Will there be an increase in airline consolidation? Will we see the numerous new start-ups?

• Will low-cost carriers maintain the market share they have gained during the pandemic?

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16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break

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16:30 - 17:30 Session 5: Airports - capacity, charges, competition, regulation after pandemic

Airports believe the pandemic's effects will require airport charges to be higher in future. Increased uncertainty about future passenger traffic makes the choice between investment and capacity expansion, or more efficient use of existing capacity, a matter of considerable importance. Session 5 poses several questions:

• How did airport charges evolve during and after the pandemic?

• Has the pandemic shifted the trajectory of airport traffic growth? What are the implications for future investment and ownership restructures by airports?

• Has the pandemic generated a stronger case for changing the EU slot allocation system?

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17:30 - 18:30 Session 6: Should airports be allowed to recover financial losses of the pandemic?

The pandemic caused the closure or near-closure of airports across Europe, and large losses. Airports provide infrastructure and argue that, as they remained available to serve customers, their loss of net revenue in the period should be able to be recovered in the coming years. Session 6 will consider these questions:

• What has been the extent of financial losses for airports during the 2020-21 pandemic?

• What was the scale of government aid to the airport sector?

• If cost recovery is pursued, who should bear the cost? How could cost recovery be organised? What role for regulators?

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18:45 Drinks & Gala Dinner

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