EU agrees on more centralized and cleaner European air traffic management

09-03-24

The European Union has reached an agreement on a key reform of the Single European Sky to move towards more centralized and sustainable air traffic management. This compromise, the result of negotiations between the European Parliament and the Member States, introduces significant changes to both the Single Sky regulation and the revision of the operational framework of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), overcoming previous discrepancies that had slowed its progress.

This reform aims to optimize the performance, structuring and management of airspace in Europe, as well as the efficiency of air navigation services. The aim is to increase the capacity and flexibility of the system, while reducing costs and minimizing the environmental and climate impact of aviation.

One of the most notable innovations is the imposition of fare modulation on routes, encouraging airlines, both public and private, to opt for more fuel-efficient routes or to adopt alternative clean technologies. This measure will be preceded by a cost-benefit analysis conducted by the European Commission, thus ensuring its feasibility.

The Belgian Minister of Mobility and President-in-Office of the Council of the EU, Georges Gilkinet, has stressed that the agreement "will facilitate significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions in aviation and provide member states with additional tools to mitigate the nuisance caused by the aviation sector".

In addition, the reform aims to stimulate digital innovation and open up the market for air data services, in line with the EU's objectives of promoting the transition to digitalization and environmental sustainability.