The European Commission has adopted an "airport package", designed to promote the competitiveness of the European aviation market. The airport package consists of three initiatives: i) a proposal for a directive on airport charges aiming at ensuring transparency in the relationship between airport operators and airport users, ii) a communication on airport capacity, efficiency and safety in Europe, and iii) a report on the implementation of the Groundhandling Directive and on the initial phase of liberalisation of this sector. Until now, European airports have been facing diverse regulatory, commercial and external challenges. The airport package offers a common set of rules to be applied and enforced uniformly throughout Europe.