Many Members Moving To The Recently-Formed Airlines For Europe

A second European airline association has suspended operations as carriers shift to the recently-formed Airlines for Europe (A4E) trade group.

A4E was formed in January of this year by five European carriers. Since then, membership has grown, and at its Presidents' Assembly Meeting on November 22, the Association of European Airlines (AEA) determined that its best course of action was to cease all public activities immediately. "The association will be dissolved by the end of this year," the AEA said in a statement.

AEA had represented 22 network carriers in Europe.

Air Transport world reports that at an event in September, A4E managing director Thomas Reynaert said the association is a "hybrid airline association representing all airline business models, so we reflect reality better than the old associations.

AEA was formed in 1952 by Air France, KLM, Sabena and Swissair. They were later joined by the carrier that eventually became British Airways and SAS Scandinavian Airlines.

Earlier this year, the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA), ceased activities Aug. 31.

FMI: https://a4e.eu