State of flux

摘要

Civil aviation in Europe is currently undergoing a transition as airlines, airports and regulatory authorities adjust from traditional markets based on national interests to more open competition and co-operation. BILL READ looks at what's been happening in the skies over Europe. Strange things are happening in the European air transport industry. A market traditionally composed of national airlines is slowly being forced by economic realities to change to one in which transnational operators compete across the entire community. Some airports are suffering from overcapacity while others want more traffic. Given a level playing field, economic forces would cause an industry consolidation as some carriers expand while others go out of business, resulting in fewer, larger airlines.