Story ID: 
EBAA Successfully Reforms Membership Voting Structure
By: Charlotte Bailey
Caption: Newly ratified system offers one vote for all members 
Word Count: 325
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) has successfully passed a motion that promises “one member, one vote”—reforming a system that has previously only allowed “full” (operator) members a say in decisions at the organization’s General Assembly. The proposal was approved during the second day of EBAA’s annual general conference in Genval, Belgium.
EBAA associate member advisory council chair Janine Iannarelli said the restructuring of members’ voting rights forms part of work to “reform the foundation of [the] association,” something she believes is “fundamental.” However, with associate members—typically non-operators—having expressed concern for the last few years at their lack of voting rights, “there were many debates that went on at the board level and among the working group to come up with an equitable solution,” she explained.
The decision follows the implementation of a new membership fee structure in January 2026, something that was delayed a year from 2025. The reformed voting system “ensures that EBAA is not only representing the sector, but doing so with a mandate that is broader, more inclusive, and more reflective of its diversity,” suggested EBAA CEO Stefan Benz.
Although OEMs, partners, and service provider members will now have more input into decisions, an operator majority of one will remain on a board deliberately weighted toward an uneven number of 15. So-called “higher amendments”—reflecting items such as board composition and larger decision-making—will require a “super-majority” of 75% of full members and 75% of operator full members present. However, of the board’s 15 seats, an additional four will also be opened up to the entire membership base.
“This transformation, however, also comes with a shared responsibility,” concluded Benz. “Our recent efforts, from ReFuelEU to our legal action on EU taxonomy alongside Dassault, as well as our work on slots, airspace access, regulatory barriers, and flight time limitations, all underline how critical active member engagement is to achieving meaningful outcomes.”