Poland’s regional authorities have urged the European Commission to shape new state aid rules for air transport in a way that recognises the role of regional airports in keeping transport links open and supporting local economies.

The Polish Association of Voivodeships, known as ZWRP, adopted its position on 9 June 2026 during consultations on the Commission’s draft guidelines for state aid in the aviation sector. It said the future rules should take account of regional airports’ importance for transport accessibility, territorial cohesion and socio-economic development.

The intervention comes as European policy makers review how public support can be used in the aviation market. Regional airports often rely on aid to maintain routes and infrastructure that larger hubs can sustain through passenger numbers and commercial revenue alone.

In its statement, ZWRP argued that the new framework should not treat regional airports in the same way as major international gateways. It said their contribution goes beyond air travel, helping to connect less accessible parts of a country with national and European networks.

The association said the Commission’s consultations offer a chance to build rules that reflect differences between airport types. It wants the final guidance to allow support for facilities that play a public service role in regions where road and rail options may be limited or slower.

Regional airports are often promoted by local governments as tools for economic growth. They can support tourism, attract investment and make business travel easier, while also giving residents faster access to other parts of Europe.

But state aid for airports remains a sensitive issue in the EU because of competition concerns. Brussels has long tried to balance the need to support weaker regions with the need to prevent unfair advantages for individual operators.

ZWRP’s position adds the voice of Poland’s regional administrations to that debate. The association is asking for rules that leave room for public funding where airports serve a wider social and economic purpose, rather than only a commercial one.

The European Commission has not yet finalised the new guidelines. The outcome of the consultation will help determine how much flexibility member states have when backing regional airports in the years ahead.