The chief of the Association of European Airlines, who has spent much firepower in 2009 advertising the plight of Europe’s ailing aviation industry, expresses optimism about the future in spite of the dismal economic climate.

The industry “has great leaders who will rise to the top and move the sector to pastures green,” says Schulte-Strathaus, whose organization represents 33 major airlines that generate almost 400,000 jobs.

One childhood lesson he has tapped is uncovering common ground. One can have friends in different countries and different ways of seeing things but it’s “very important to find the common denominator,” he says.

These days, Schulte-Strathaus is trying his best to bring people together on a hot-button issue of utmost concern to European carriers: excessive charges and fees slamming an industry struggling to survive the global financial mess.

According to Schulte-Strathaus, EU Transport Commissioner Antonio Tajani recently sent a letter to all 27 European Union Member States urging them to accelerate the implementation of the EU Directive on airport charges and the Single European Skies Second Regulatory Package.

Indeed, “first reports of intended increases for air navigation service providers throughout Europe range from +8 percent to +32 percent for 2010 in Europe,” Schulte-Strathaus notes.

And the timing could not be worse. Declares Schulte-Strathaus: “The AEA airlines alone will make a loss of 2.9 billion euros ($4.3 billion) in 2009 because less people will be paying less for their flights and for their transported cargo — and service providers increase fees! That is totally unacceptable!

“We are in an unprecedented aviation crisis, and we have to jointly find ways — together with airports and air navigation service providers — to reduce costs,” he adds.

AEA airlines reduced staff levels by 35,000 during the past year, he says. What’s more, “the current economic devastation shows the true weakness of our sector: governments, unions, service providers, the tourism sector do not talk to each other enough to identify how the value of aviation can be promoted, and must be promoted.”

Until governments reduce the regulatory barriers “and accept the need for fundamental structural change” more redundancies will be unavoidable, Schulte-Strathaus claims.

As one who “always likes to be two steps ahead” of the game, Schulte-Strathaus finds solace and stimulation amid the current confusion. He has clearly played a pivotal role increasing the political clout of the association. He heaps credit on his AEA “dream team” that is “great in identifying what needs to be done.”

Schulte-Strathaus says he landed at AEA in September 2002 when he was considered a good candidate for the job because of his international expertise. He spent many years at Lufthansa, where he helped pave the way for the German government to negotiate an Open Skies agreement with the United States.

An outdoorsman, Schulte-Strathaus is fond of jogging in the forest of Brussels. He also loves skiing, “preferably in the Alps” but says friends in Croatia, Greece and Finland have also shown him the wonders of the seaside. And associates in Iceland have taught him “how enriching it is to be on horseback riding through fascinating and unique countryside.”

Schulte-Strathaus also thrives upon change, something that can be useful on the parenting front too. The married father of two says he adores his children “although as adolescents they probably adore their dad less.”

Looking ahead, Schulte-Strathaus says successful airlines will be those that have the economies of scale, or a niche, or a perceptible cost advantage. In Europe, he notes, “the nationality of the airline is less important than it used to be.” ACW

trish.williams@aircargoworld.com