European Air Travel Restrictions - Help or Hindrance?

It may come as a rather disappointing blow to regular travellers and European property owners to hear that airport groups within the EU are lobbying to have its liquid restrictions period extended beyond the original date of 2013. After setting up a five-year ban to give explosives experts the time to come up with adequate liquid detection technology, airports within the EU were expected to begin phasing out the restrictions this year, with passengers able to carry unlimited liquids in their hand luggage once again in two years' time. Trade groups representing the major airports and airlines, however, have slowly been increasing pressure on EU officials to abandon this plan, asking instead for the liquid ban to remain fully in place until at least 2013.

Director General of the Airports Council International Europe, Olivier Jankovec, warned the risk of a security incident was simply not worth reducing hassles to passengers by lifting the ban. "The existing technology is not fit for the purpose", said Jankovec. "We risk paralysing the major hubs." Whilst the technology as it now stands would probably slow down passengers' transit times rather than speed them up, more importantly there is still the risk that an explosive could slip through the net - and another potential hijacking episode could have horrendous consequences for the already shaky airline industry.

Still, the issue remains that something must be done. Although security restrictions for those travelling to and around Europe are not as severe as for US travellers, they're still strong enough to in some cases cause passengers to think twice about air travel. With bargain airfares not what they used to be, and local rail particularly presenting a much more hassle-free option for a weekend break, having to remember to take every single liquid out of one's bag, and in some cases having fairly costly items confiscated at the gate, is just one more issue counting against the European air travel industry and long-haul trips in general.

That may be why destinations closer to home are proving more popular and resilient in the European property market. France, for instance, being an easy rail journey from most major European hubs, has survived the collapse of its' neighbours property markets in tact and is still presenting some steady investment opportunities. A well-appointed three bedroom villa in the popular and well-connected wine region of Languedoc-Rousillon is listed on Eurobrix for 525,000 euros, while a cosy two-bedroom apartment in Antibes will set you back 265,000 euros.

About the author:

Yuri Brixenmortar is the author of Eurobrix Blog. He loves real estate so when the guys at www.eurobrix.com asked him to join the team and help promote European property and real estate around the world, he couldn't say no. He finds it interesting to look at other peoples' houses, apartments and castles.