A group of MEPs led by Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain and Mathilde Androuët (both PfE) has asked the European Commission to ensure that the ongoing revision of State aid guidelines for air transport does not harm connectivity or raise costs for the EU's outermost regions (ORs). In a written parliamentary question dated 13 July 2026, the MEPs warn that decarbonisation objectives must not lead to fewer air connections or higher travel costs for residents of these remote territories, which rely heavily on aviation for access to healthcare, education, employment and economic development.
The question, signed by ten MEPs from the PfE, ESN and NI groups, contains three concrete demands. First, the Commission must explain how it will reconcile decarbonisation goals with maintaining essential air links for ORs. Second, the MEPs ask whether the Commission intends to keep or adapt support mechanisms for strategic air routes serving ORs, including connections to nearby third countries. Third, they request that the Commission take into account the complementary nature of certain airport infrastructure in ORs, given the regions' specific access and resilience needs.
The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks. Its answer will signal whether the executive is willing to carve out special treatment for ORs in the revised State aid framework, or whether it will prioritise uniform decarbonisation rules across all EU regions. The outcome directly affects residents of ORs, regional airlines operating those routes, and local economies dependent on air connectivity.