28.12.13

BARIN view future growth and maximum capacity on Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Schiphol - November/December 2013

BARIN zienswijze i.z.:

Nederlandse Overheids (grootaandeelhouder) plannen met betrekking tot het door Schiphol Group fors te willen laten investeren in de luchthaven Lelystad ten behoeve van het accommoderen van toekomstige groei van de luchtvaart op Schiphol in verband met het beperkende uitgangspunt van een gestelde maximum capactiteit van 510.000 vliegbeweging op Schiphol.

BARIN is van mening dat in geval van het bereiken van de maximale capaciteit op Schiphol alleen beleid zinvol en verantwoord is als dat er toe leidt dat adequate en verantwoorde luchthaven capaciteit in de regio (buiten Schiphol- b.v. Lelystad) wordt aangelegd waar marktvraag voor is, voldoet aan operationele en infrastructurele rand-voorwaarden en dat leidt tot het oplossen van een te verwachten capaciteitsprobleem op Schiphol.

Los van de vraag of het door de Nederlandse overheid beoogde Selectiviteits regiem, ten behoeve van een oplossing voor het vermeende toekomstige capaciteits probleem op Schiphol, binnen het kader van EU en Nederlandse mededingings en non discriminatoire regelgeving toelaatbaar is, meent BARIN het van belang te signaleren dat BARIN leden diverse business modellen vertegenwoordigen en als gevolg daarvan er geen unanieme BARIN visie in deze is wat betreft het beoogde selectiviteits proces.

BARIN hecht er aan om te constateren dat de luchthaven Schiphol, met zijn uitgebreide banenstelstel, optimaal moet inspelen op de (technische) innovaties in de luchtvaart wat betreft het terugdringen van geluid en uitstoot, dat in de (nabije) toekomst nadrukkelijk kan bijdragen tot optimalisatie van de infrastructuur om toekomstige groei op en rondon de luchthaven Schiphol te accommoderen. BARIN is van mening dat sinds het Alders akkoord dd. 2008 technologische verbeteringen in de luchtvaart in dit kader enorm zijn toegenomen en vraagt om een, op geactualiseerde data gebaseerde, nieuwe visie om de luchtvaart optimaal te (blijven) faciliteren op Schiphol en het belang van de huidige loyale gebruikers van de luchthaven Schiphol, een van de belangrijkste econmische drijvers voor Nederland, niet uit het oog te verliezen.

.....for informal English translation of the above and related correspondence click on: ......read more:

4.6.13

BARIN Position Paper 29 May 2013 and IATA Core Principles for Passenger Rights Regulation

read more .. BARIN Position Paper 29 May 2013 in Dutch and translation in English

Cape Town 3 June 2013 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 69th Annual General Meeting (AGM) unanimously endorsed a set of core principles for governments to consider when adopting consumer protection regulation.

The IATA AGM resolution addresses a proliferation of uncoordinated and extra-territorial passenger rights legislation and regulation that is the cause of confusion among passengers. Some 50 countries have passenger rights requirements affecting air transport and several more are considering imposing them.

“Airlines are aligned with governments in wanting to get their passengers to their destinations on time. But sometimes that is just not possible. Governments should set some simple guarantees on what passengers should expect in such situations. But un-harmonized and extra-territorial regulations can cause utter confusion for international travelers. Being stuck in Europe on a disrupted trip from the United States to Israel is bad enough for a passenger. Regulation shouldn’t worsen the situation by presenting them with a bewildering array of three conflicting passenger rights regimes,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

“Governments are turning a blind eye to the problems that they are creating. We want regulators to understand that travelers are our customers. And we want customers to have the best possible experience because our businesses depend on customers coming back. So, industry is providing a fresh solution. These core principles on consumer protection will help governments harmonize their various regimes. And they will be the centerpiece of an industry–wide campaign to help regulators recalibrate their impression of what the air travel experience is, and how it could be even better,” said Tyler.

In summary, the core principles call on governments to develop consumer protection regulations that:

Are clear, unambiguous, aligned with international conventions, without extra-territorial implications and comparable with regimes in place for other modes of transport
Allow airlines the ability to differentiate themselves through their customer service offerings above a basic common standard
Ensure passenger access to
Information concerning their rights, fares, including taxes and charges (prior to purchasing a ticket), the actual operator of the flight, and regular situational updates in the case of service disruptions

- Appropriate assistance for those with reduced mobility
- Efficient complaint handling procedures that are clearly communicated
Reflect the principle of proportionality and the impact of extraordinary circumstances when determining compensation
Do not compromise the industry’s top priority of safety, and exonerate airlines from liability for safety-related delays and cancellations
In the case of denied boarding and cancellations, entitle passengers to re-routing, refunds or compensation where circumstances are within the airlines’ control.
In the case of delays, entitle passengers to re-routing, refunds or care and assistance; and acknowledge that when such delays or disruptions are beyond the control of airlines, market forces should determine the care and assistance available to passengers.
Ensure that the burden is allocated among the different service providers involved.


“What’s needed is a Hippocratic Oath for regulators. The first principle would be to do no harm—intended or unintended. And every regulator should take an oath to solve problems, take full advantage of expert advice, measure costs against benefits and ensure global harmonization. The core principles are a first step,” said Tyler.

....read more.... Passenger rights resolution (pdf)

For more information, please contact:
IATA Corporate Communications
Email: corpcomms@iata.org
Website: www.iata.org

BARIN Media Relations
Email: office@barin.nl
Website: www.barin.nl

13.4.13

Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Environment - mrs. Wilma Mansfeld - at the 2013 BARIN New Year Gathering

Special Guest- and Keynote Speaker mrs. Wilma Mansveld, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Environment - Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Milieu at the 2013 BARIN New Year Gathering on 22 January at the Schiphol HILTON


Click on: Keynote Speech by Mrs. Wilma Mansveld

BARIN Chairman New Year Address

Click on: BARIN Chairman - Frank Allard - New Year Address 2013

BARIN Position Paper on the Evaluation Dutch Aviation Act

The Evaluation of the Dutch Aviation Act - chapter Economic Regulation - regarding the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AAS) Operation decree requires final decision making. Last two years of discussions, chaired by the Ministry of I and M, on the issue of an obligatory annual contribution from the AAS non-aviation till earnings to the aviation till has reached the recognition that such a contribution is to be established. BARIN pleas for an speedy Aviation Law adjustment decision, and has formulated a Position Paper for this purpose sent to the permanent committee of the House of Representatives (Vaste Tweede Kamer Commissie) of Infrastructure and Environment ( Infrastructuur en Milieu).

Click on:
BARIN letter 11 Jan. 2013 to Dutch Parliament House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) re Single - Dual Till discussion and BARIN alternative proposal for an obligatory annual contribution from non-aviation till to aviation till