The European airport trade association, ACI EUROPE today has released its traffic report for April 2016, showing a slight dip in average traffic at Europe's airports of +3.0%.

Europe's air cargo market was given a lift as the Airports Council International (ACI) Europe reports in its monthly report that freight traffic rose year-on-year (YOY) by 5.5 per cent across the continent in April.

Transport ministers from all 28 European Union (EU) states are scheduled to meet on June 7 to authorize the start of negotiations for several key air transport agreements.

CEO of Birmingham Airport Paul Kehoe said that a new Gatwick runway, when compared to the alternative Heathrow option, would lead to "greater competition and choice across the UK's long-haul airports, allowing Birmingham Airport to continue to grow and fire the Midlands Engine."

Spain's airport operator, Aena, has turned its retail business around in spectacular fashion since 2011, with commercial revenue in 2015 reaching €912m/$1,03bn. 

Remote towers will allow for safe and efficient air traffic services, potentially reducing the costs for air traffic services at airports by 30% to 40%, writes Avinor's Jan Østby.

Finnair is now reinvigorating and accelerating its long haul growth plans, based on its niche in  Europe -Asia connecting  traffic . A target to double its 2010 Asia ASKs by 2020 has been brought forward to 2018, and this can be achieved with minimal additional investment. Through a refocused commercial strategy, Finnair hopes to stay ahead of market RASK performance in a weak unit revenue  environment .