Statement by the President of Confindustria Lombardia, Alberto Ribolla

Milan, 12 January 2015 – “Confindustria Lombardia hopes that the rewriting of the Lupi Decree will provide an opportunity to develop an intercontinental hub and the entire Lombardy airport system, without traffic redistribution favouring or disadvantaging any specific airline. An economically significant area, such as the industrial macro-region comprising Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna, must be able to rely on a strategic international-level airport that allows it to remain open and connected to all major global economic centres.”

“Recent developments regarding the distribution of regional airport traffic clearly reveal pressures that are detrimental not only to Italy but also to the entire European Union, of which Northern Italy represents one of the most important productive areas. In a key region like the North, an intercontinental hub is essential to promote development and connect territories, people, goods and businesses with the rest of the world.
Failing to focus on the development of a major hub would mean penalising the international economic potential of Northern Italy. From this perspective, we are already at a disadvantage compared to our European competitors: it is sufficient to note that no airport in Northern Italy features among the top ten airports in Europe by passenger numbers,” stated Confindustria Lombardia President Alberto Ribolla while commenting on the European Union’s rejection of the Lupi Decree.

Attachments

• lombardy airports statement - 12 January 2016.pdf