Whilst the various political entities across the world support the development of a powerful aviation industry to gain influence and profile in the international arena, Europe seems to be lagging behind in this respect. In a competitive, expanding context of soft power on the part of ambitious third countries, the Member States and the Commission do however have every interest in guaranteeing the long-term of airline connectivity on the European continent, which contributes to the influence of EU players at international level. It is therefore vital for Europeans to be aware of the challenges they face and coordinate a true strategy together.
