DUBROVNIK/SARAJEVO – Southeast European airliners agreed at a meeting in Dubrovnik yesterday that air traffic cooperation in the region should be enhanced to improve air connections, increase competitiveness and better position Southeast Europe on the European air transport market.

Speaking at the meeting, RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic said that strengthened regional cooperation in all spheres of economy, trade and services, including air transport, can only benefit individual companies and national economies.

“Such cooperation models enable faster development and facing the challenges caused by changed business climate, new legal framework and ever increasing competition at European and global market.”

“Under such circumstances, it is necessary to develop a strategy of optimal use of the Southeast European market of over 150 million people, with more than 120 airports.”

The participants accepted Secretary General Biscevic’s proposal to elaborate the project of enhanced cooperation in air transport at a meeting to be organized by the RCC, with invitations extended to relevant transport ministries, representatives of the European Commission and the Association of European Airlines, and regional airport authorities.

The Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines, Ulrich Schulte Strathaus, representatives of Airbus and major regional airlines, and other high officials took part in the event organized by the Croatian airliner Croatia Airlines.

The Croatia Airlines CEO Ivan Misetic presented his airliner’s plans for a stronger regional presence, underlying that the company was ready to take a lead in developing this regional policy.