On November 28^th, 2024, EBAA’s senior membership officer spoke at the SPBAA’s “Flying Into the Future of Business Aviation in Spain 2024” forum in Madrid. This remarkable gathering brought together industry professionals, visionaries, and leaders, all united by a shared commitment to shaping a sustainable future for business aviation. The event offered an incredible platform to share ideas and drive meaningful dialogue at the national level.

SPBAA: A forum for collaboration

The Spanish Business Aviation Association (SPBAA) has established itself as a vital hub for advancing discussions around sustainability, innovation, and industry regulation. This year’s forum cantered on sustainability—an issue that is no longer optional for our sector but essential. Held at the Fundación Aeronáutica Antonio Quintana, at Cuatro Vientos Airport in Madrid, the event provided the perfect setting to explore how business aviation can work together to overcome challenges and seize opportunities for greener, more efficient aviation practices.

A call for industry leadership

EBAA emphasised sustainability must be at the core of business aviation’s future. It’s not simply a box to tick for regulatory compliance or corporate social responsibility. Sustainability is a strategic imperative that will define our industry’s reputation and its ability to grow.

Business aviation has long been at the forefront of innovation, and we have an opportunity—indeed, a compromise—to lead the charge in environmental responsibility. During the event, Paul Walsh also encouraged attendees to adopt a proactive approach, integrating sustainability into every aspect of their operations. The future of aviation depends on our ability to innovate, collaborate, and demonstrate leadership in this critical area.

Introducing the STARS programme

One of the key initiatives addressed was the STARS (Standards & Training for Aviation Responsibility and Sustainability) programme, developed by the European Business Aviation Association. STARS is a framework designed to help businesses meaningful and measurable sustainability practices.

The programme offers training resources, sustainability metrics, and actionable tools to empower companies to achieve their environmental goals. Importantly, it aligns with global sustainability targets, positioning business aviation as a leader in combating climate change. By adopting the STARS framework, organizations can not only reduce their carbon footprint but also demonstrate their commitment to transparency and accountability—values that resonate strongly with both regulators and the public.

SPBAA’s impact

EBAA’s role at the European level is to engage with EU institutions, policymakers, and regulators to ensure that the voices of business aviation stakeholders are heard and their interests represented in the development of pan-European policies. However, the influence and effectiveness of this work depend heavily on the strong support and engagement of national associations. Organisations like SPBAA play a very important role in translating overarching European objectives into meaningful action on the ground.

By leveraging their deep understanding of local regulatory frameworks, market conditions, and community dynamics, national associations can serve as invaluable partners in advancing the industry’s priorities across diverse member states. Through this complementary relationship, EBAA’s European-level advocacy gains a powerful local dimension, enabling tailored solutions that resonate both in Brussels and in national capitals throughout Europe.

EBAA commends the SPBAA for its outstanding work in bringing this forum to life. The association’s leadership in fostering dialogue and collaboration is invaluable. Events like these not only advance our collective understanding of the challenges we face but also inspire actionable solutions—combining the strategic oversight of EU-level engagement with the essential on-the-ground perspective that national associations uniquely