Key announcements from the 35th ACI EUROPE Annual Congress & General Assembly
On 18-20 June 2025, ACI EUROPE held its 35th Annual Congress & General Assembly in Athens, Greece, hosted by Athens International Airport. The flagship event served as a platform for a number of important announcements. ICYMI, here is a roundup of ACI EUROPE’s news releases.
Resilience and Future-Proofing Top Priorities for Europe’s Airports
The landmark presentation by ACI EUROPE Director General Olivier Jankovec – the State of the European Airport Industry – kick-started the association’s Congress proceedings with a slew of new data and an important update on trading conditions for Europe’s airports. This year, the key focus was placed on resilience and future-proofing as core strategic priorities, as well as addressing geopolitical instability, climate imperatives, and evolving passenger expectations.
ACI EUROPE President Urges Aviation Competitiveness Reset
ACI EUROPE President and CEO of SEA Milan Airports, Armando Brunini, has called for a competitiveness reset in European aviation, highlighting the pressing need to tackle structural weaknesses and regulatory burdens. Addressing the sector’s post-pandemic recovery, he warned against complacency and urged greater alignment across industry and policymakers. Brunini emphasised the critical role of investment, innovation, and a forward-looking approach to ensure Europe’s aviation remains resilient, sustainable, and globally competitive.
ATHENS DECLARATION: Airports and Airlines Urge End to Knee-Jerk Operating Restrictions
In a joint statement, European airports and airlines represented by ACI EUROPE, Airlines for Europe (A4E) and European Regions Airline Association (ERA) issued an urgent call for governments and the European Commission to enforce the Balanced Approach to aircraft noise. Their joint Athens Declaration decried disproportionate operating restrictions imposed without proper consultation or impact assessment, which jeopardise connectivity and economic viability. The associations stressed that aviation noise must be addressed via a data-driven and compliant process – not through fragmented or politically motivated decisions.
ACI EUROPE Reaffirms Net Zero Commitment With 314 Airports Disclosing Net Zero Roadmaps
Under the ACI EUROPE Net Zero 2050 industry pledge – enhanced and reaffirmed every year since its first release in 2019 – 314 airports across Europe have now disclosed detailed roadmaps outlining how they plan to decarbonise operations. This milestone reflects a strong commitment to climate action, with each roadmap providing transparency on targets, trajectories, and implementation timelines. ACI EUROPE reaffirmed its ambition for airport operators to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest, while urging policy and financial frameworks that can unlock further progress.
Stefan Schulte Elected to Lead ACI EUROPE
Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG, has been elected President of ACI EUROPE, bringing decades of leadership and strategic expertise to the helm. Succeeding Armando Brunini, Schulte will guide the association through key challenges including sustainability, competitiveness, and capacity constraints. He committed to advocating for a policy environment that empowers airports to thrive, while deepening engagement with institutions and stakeholders to shape a resilient and forward-looking European aviation sector.
Never miss an update on ACI EUROPE’s flagship events – subscribe to our Events stream here.
