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REPORT (2023/2060(INI))

On electric aviation – a solution for short and mid-range flights

A-9-2023-0438

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Erik Bergkvist

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's resolution on electric aviation for short and mid-range flights sets out the benefits of aircraft electrification, the technological challenges and the action it wants at EU level. It asks the Commission to support regional airports, to identify routes suitable for full electrification and to draw up a common strategy for electric aircraft and a strategy for the necessary infrastructure. It calls for investment in research and development, batteries and recycling, more funding for the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, and a European strategy for the development, certification and deployment of the new generation of aircraft.

Committee position. The Committee on Transport and Tourism proposes a resolution setting out the benefits of electric aviation, the technological challenges and the EU action it wants, including support for regional airports, investment in batteries and infrastructure, and a common strategy for electric aircraft.

Key points

  1. Regional airports are important for short and medium-range electric flight; the Commission is asked to affirm financial support for them, especially those active in electric aviation.
  2. Electric aviation could improve connectivity and access to public services in smaller, isolated, sparsely populated and island regions, and in the outermost regions between themselves.
  3. Electrification could make previously abandoned routes economically viable; the Commission should explore this potential with the relevant regions and member states.
  4. eVTOLs and fixed-wing electric aircraft use different technologies and serve different markets and should be treated as complementary forms of new urban air mobility.
  5. Low-decibel electric aircraft should benefit from simplified procedures for noise-related permits or derogations from flight restrictions, and industry should use EASA's work on noise assessment.
  6. Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft can cut greenhouse gas emissions; the Commission should ensure electric flights serve short regional routes for public service obligations.
  7. Investment must start now; member states should consider revisiting legislation banning short and medium-haul flights, and public procurement is an effective tool for electrification.
  8. Member states should explore market incentives for electric aircraft manufacturers, operators and SMEs; EU State aid rules may need modifying to support the eVTOL sector.
  9. The Commission, with Eurocontrol and EASA, should identify the routes most suitable for full electrification; hydrogen can play a significant role in reducing emissions.
  10. Energy infrastructure planning is key: the first on-airport elements must be in place by 2025, AFIR must be implemented, and the Commission must evaluate the market at the end of 2026 and every 5 years thereafter.
  11. Current batteries face weight and energy density limits; the Commission should invest in next generation solid-state batteries and reduce dependencies in the battery supply chain.
  12. The Commission should create a policy framework supporting electric aircraft, including channelling part of ETS aviation revenues to CAJU, and a strategy for hydrogen production and storage.

Who is affected

  • Regional airports, which the Commission is asked to support financially and which need infrastructure adaptation.
  • Isolated, island and outermost regions, which could gain connectivity but need financial, substantive and technical support.
  • The aviation industry, including manufacturers, operators and SMEs, which should receive incentives and work on a technical roadmap.
  • Member states, which should explore incentives, revisit flight bans and implement AFIR.
  • The Commission, EASA and the European Investment Bank, which are asked to act on strategy, certification and funding.

Figures and deadlines

  • Emissions from international aviation increased by 146 % compared to 1990 by 2019.
  • 50-55 % of emissions could be reduced by shifting to SAF, 30-35 % by new technologies, 5-10 % by optimising operations and 5 % by market-based measures.
  • 75 % of the global civil fleet will have to be replaced from 2035 onwards to deliver the required emission reductions by 2050.
  • Small electric test aircraft of up to nine seats are already flying; electric aircraft of up to 30 seats are planned for the late 2020s and regional aircraft for the 2030s.
  • eVTOLs are currently limited to six seats.
  • Existing large airports could consume 5-10 times more electricity by 2050 than they do today.
  • The first elements of on-airport infrastructure must be in place by 2025.
  • Under AFIR, the Commission must evaluate the market at the end of 2026 and every 5 years thereafter.

Legal basis: Article 90 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union.