• European Regions Airline Association (ERA) heads to Germany this week for its annual spring event, the Regional Airline Conference.
• More than 250 aviation professionals from ERA’s membership, together with distinguished industry leaders and global players will discuss regional aviation’s most pressing issues.

This week in Berlin, Germany, ERA’s members will gather for its upcoming conference, poised to address the industry issues affecting regional aviation the most.

Drawing together an array of industry leaders and senior representants from the main European institutions, including representatives from the European Commission, EUROCONTROL and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Regional Airline Conference promises to be an enlightening and collaborative event. With the participation of hundreds of delegates from ERA’s diverse array of membership businesses, the event aims to confront the foremost challenges and opportunities faced by the regional aviation sector, while charting a course towards future growth and prosperity.

The conference will focus on critical issues such as airline competition and the competitiveness of air transport in Europe; financing the green transition; and resource scarcity, from parts to people. Attendees can expect a platform for engaging discussions and innovative strategies aimed at shaping the future of regional aviation.

Esteemed speakers scheduled to address the conference include: Phillip Ashley-Smith, CEO, PAS Aviation; Daniele Cereghetti, CEO, Zimex Aviation; Vasiliki Christidi, Group General Manager, SKY express; Richard Lake, CEO, Eastern Airways; Simon McNamara, Director Government and Industry Affairs, Heart Aerospace; Pierre Muracciole, CEO, Air Corsica; Nicolae Petrov, President and CEO, Carpatair; Marie-Louise Philippe, VP Sales and Marketing – Europe & CIS, Embraer; Dr Klaus Radermacher, CEO, KRBE; Olivier Raevel, Vice President, Commercial EU, Gevo; Jesper Rungholm, CEO, DAT Group; Marianne Sieg de Maintenant, Special Advisor to the Presidency, Air France-KLM; Anne-Bart Tieleman, CEO, TrueNoord; Alexis Vidal, SVP Commercial, ATR; and Maren Wolters, Managing Director, German Airways. Their insights and expertise promise to offer invaluable perspectives.

The event will also include the high-profile Airline and Airport CEOs’ meeting where ERA’s airline top management will be joined by Maria Rueda, Strategy and Safety Management Director, EASA, Raúl Medina, Director General, EUROCONTROL and Henrik Mørch, Director, DG COMP, European Commission in a session moderated by Patrick Edmond, Managing Director, Altair Advisory, to discuss matters focused on operations, safety, infrastructure and competition.

Montserrat Barriga, Director General, ERA, has expressed her anticipation for the conference, stating: “Collaboration serves as the fuel propelling progress within the regional aviation sector, powering innovation, streamlining operations and elevating our sustainability commitments. ERA events bring together industry stakeholders and serve as catalysts for change, enabling the creation of strategies that chart a course for a brighter future for our sector. I am immensely looking forward to this year’s conference to witness the synergy of minds, the exchange of innovative ideas and the collective determination to address industry challenges head on. This conference serves not only as a platform for our members to explore new horizons but also to strengthen partnerships and commit to sustainable practices, ensuring the continued growth and resilience of our industry.”

*Founded in 1980, European Regions Airline Association (ERA) is a non-profit trade association representing over 55 airlines plus around 170 other companies involved in European air transport, and is the only association that bring together the entire spectrum of companies involved in European aviation. The association supports and defends the airline industry in providing safe, efficient and sustainable air connectivity to all regions of Europe. By lobbying European regulatory bodies on policy matters, ERA promotes and protects social responsibility, environmental sustainability and the development of regional economies and local communities.