| THE AIR TRANSPORT SECTION | ||
The Air Transportation Section is currently represented by Czech Airlines, the most important air carrier in the Czech Republic and holder of a whole range of awards bestowed by passengers and the professional public, and Prague Airport, the main international airport in the Czech Republic. Both entities participate actively in the activities of the Union. The company is currently experiencing many changes. It is headed towards becoming a holding in which the parent company, Czech Airlines, more intensely focuses on its business core, regular transportation. Through its subsidiaries it then provides specialised services to other commercial entities. Baggage and passenger check-in and charter transportation are a couple of examples. Changes are also underway within the transportation network.
The Section is continuously working on comments on amendments to acts and regulations related to aviation, and it also actively participated in the creation of the Transportation Policy of the Czech Republic.
The air transportation market in recent years has become much more liberalised compared to the past. This type of transportation has completely lost its former exclusivity and inaccessibility, both for new companies considering entrance into this market and for travellers. According to all presumptions, this trend will also continue in the years to come. In addition, air transportation is today a highly competitive environment in which air carriers have to lower costs time and again. Therefore, further mergers of airlines into larger groups can be expected so that they can face this situation efficiently.
Contrary to the current fluctuations in air transportation, in the next twenty years it is possible to expect a significant increase in the volume of this type of transportation, not only in the Czech Republic, but in the entire region of Central and Eastern Europe.
With regard to the size and economic power of the domestic market, in the coming years the Air Transportation Section is promoting:
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The preservation of the state interest in air transportation with regard to its importance for the Czech Republic's employment and economic development (aviation is the only transportation sector without demands on the national budget).
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The successful completion of Czech Airlines' restructuring and its transformation into a financially strong flagship carrier of the Czech Republic that will be able to compete on the current, highly competitive aviation market.
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Further development of the Ruzynì airport as the main strategic element of the aviation infrastructure in the Czech Republic:
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It is expected that in the coming years there will be a significant increase in the volume of transported persons in the Czech Republic;
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Ruzynì airport is currently facilitating a fundamental volume of all air transportation in the country; for its further development it is necessary to create additional necessary capacities, in particular a new take-off and landing runway.
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Development of international airports in other Czech cities.
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Creation of conditions for the construction of additional regional airports with a primary focus on low-cost airlines including seasonal use.
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The key question from the point of view of European air carriers is the fee policy of airport operators. The companies associated with the AEA (Association of European Airlines) and the Air Transportation Section are striving for optimisation of aviation fees. This situation is reflected in the Czech Republic in the relationships with air carriers, individual airports and the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic.
The concept of the programme of aviation infrastructure development must be based mainly on bringing aviation equipment and technologies to the same level as in states with advanced transportation and on unifying air navigation service systems in civilian and military aviation.