The European Investment Bank (EIB) is showing its support for the French aeronautics sector by backing capital projects mounted by Société Air France SA and the national public entity Aéroports de Paris (ADP).
The EIB has undertaken to support Air France's planned acquisition of 15 Airbus A-318 aircraft to the tune of EUR 100 million. The new aircraft will be used on the airline's French and European routes. They will enable Air France to guarantee optimal transport capacity to meet customer requirements and continue modernising and streamlining its medium-haul fleet organised around the A320 Airbus family (A-318, A-319, A-320 and A-321). With this operation, the EIB is reaffirming its backing for Air France's modernisation programme since it previously contributed towards financing the first phase of the company's medium-haul fleet renewal plan between 1999 and 2002.
The EIB has also advanced a loan of EUR 100 million for the construction and activation, by end-2007, of an Automated Passenger Transport System for internal service at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport. ADP's project comprises two separate electric, driverless light rail lines: one connecting CDG1 to CDG2 with 5 stations, and the other linking module E of Terminal 2 to future satellite S3 with 2 stations. The trains, composed of 2 tyred vehicles running automatically on a metal track, will operate 24 hours a day and will be free of charge for passengers. The Automated Passenger Transport System will replace the shuttle bus system offering substantial benefits to travellers and employees in terms of frequency of service, comfort, journey times and accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. It will also contribute to reducing polluting atmospheric emissions within the airport.
In signing the finance agreement, Philippe de Fontaine Vive, EIB French Vice-President, underlined "the special attention paid by EIB to companies in the air transport sector, which was particularly and directly affected by the events of 11 September 2001 and whose projects would continue to benefit from the Bank's support. Air France and ADP's projects reflected proactive policies in terms of security, efficiency and service, which were just as important for their customers as for strengthening the positions of these leading European companies in the competitive global aeronautics industry". He also highlighted the importance of developing high-performance communications networks "as essential elements for economic integration in the EU and the enlarged Union".
The EIB, the EU's financing institution, is a major player in developing transport networks in Europe. Since the impetus given by the European Commission under the Delors presidency and the Essen European Council in 1994, it has devoted over EUR 86.7 billion to transport infrastructure (railway lines, road networks, airport and port infrastructure), of which EUR 53.3 billion to trans-European networks and 12.7 billion specifically to air transport. In particular, the EIB has contributed towards the financing of projects by British Airways (UK), Iberia (SP), TAP (PT), SAS (DK), Austrian Airlines, Cargolux (LU), Tarum (RU), as well as the development of Amsterdam, Athens, Dublin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Heathrow, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Madrid, Rome, Milan-Malpensa, Sofia, Tallinn, Riga, Warsaw and Prague airports. The French air sector has benefited from some EUR 724 million for Air France, Air Inter as well as Roissy-Charles de Gaulle, Bordeaux, Mulhouse and St Denis-Gillot/La Réunion airports. All these operations are aimed at improving transport links within and between the Member States and increasing competitiveness in the European aeronautics sector.