Historic Summit Between the European Union & India, Paving the Way for Low-Cost Airline Expansion
In a major move for the airline industry, leaders of the European Union and India met at the EU-India Aviation Summit to establish a comprehensive aviation agreement to liberalise traffic rights and boost regulatory alignment, including the acceleration of decarbonisation policies between the two regions. Wizz Air participated in the discussion to foster negotiations and demonstrate the mutual benefits that can be achieved from open skies agreements, highlighting that from its experience, such agreements lead to more choice and better prices for consumers.
In her opening remarks, European Union Commissioner for Transport, Adina Valean, stressed the importance of the aviation sector in fostering economic growth and strengthening people-to-people ties between the two regions. “We need to work together to ensure that our airlines can operate efficiently, sustainably, and safely, and that travellers have access to a wide range of options at affordable prices”, Valean said.
Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, highlighted the need for greater cooperation in addressing common challenges such as air traffic congestion, security, and environmental sustainability. “India and the European Union have a long-standing relationship, and we need to build on this foundation to foster greater connectivity, trade, and investment,” Scindia said.
Several CEOs of airlines also attended the summit, including the CEO of Wizz Air, József Váradi. Mr. Váradi expressed his support for the opening of skies and going beyond the current horizontal framework. He emphasized the opportunities and efficiencies open skies would create for consumers, noting that direct connectivity between the regions was flat since 2009 and therefore it was necessary for low-cost carriers to enter the market and capture future demand. “Wizz Air welcomes the prospect of increased competition and greater access to new markets”, Váradi said. “Opening the skies between Europe and India will provide Wizz Air with opportunities to expand our low-cost operations, offer more affordable fares to our customers, and create new jobs in both regions.”