Regional airports face bankruptcy
Regional airports operating in the European Union (EU) need support. If they don’t get it, they face bankruptcy.
Airports’ troubles are the result of pandemic restrictions. Władysław Ortyl, marshal of the Podkarpackie voivodeship, who attended the Committee of the Regions meeting in Brussels, says that regional airports have suffered the most. In their case, air traffic has not returned even half to pre-pandemic levels. There are also airports which have lost up to 80% of their passenger traffic as a result of the pandemic. Some are in such a difficult situation that if they do not get external support, they will collapse. Marshal called for regional airports to be recognized in the National Recovery Plan. He believes that the European Commission should take into account how regional airports have suffered and treat them differently.
Regional airports play an important role in the development of various regions. They provide transport accessibility to peripheral, insular and outermost locations in the EU. They also make it possible to provide air ambulance services, as well as fire detection and suppression. In addition, regional airports improve the operation of emergency services, administrations, institutions and companies.
