EADS, Airbus and Thales have created an open industry alliance aimed at providing a global solution to radically increase air traffic capacity while enhancing safety and security. The Air Traffic Alliance will work to improve the air transport system over the coming decades and is linked to major initiatives by the European Union, Eurocontrol and European Civil Aviation Authorities.

Said a spokesman for Thales: “Air Traffic Control centres around the world currently deal with up to 100,000 flights a day with a growing need for additional capacity. Europe’s major challenge is to develop an efficient air transport system which will handle three times more flights in the next 20 years safely and securely, whilst reducing delays to less than 15 minutes for 99 per cent of the flights.”

The Alliance says it intends to invite other major European partners to join, and then to open a dialogue with North American players.