At the recent Digital European Sky conference organised by the European Commission and the Finnish Presidency, the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), alongside 20 EU aviation stakeholders, agreed to collectively intensify efforts to fully implement the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.

EBAA secretary-general Athar Husain Khan says: “We are happy that the joint declaration for the Future of the Single European Sky aims all noses in the same direction: delivering the efficient and sustainable European airspace we all deserve. The future Air Traffic Management (ATM) system should be inclusive, because one size does not fit all.”

In addition to easing passenger delays unseen in decades, implementing the SES initiative can help mitigate climate change by cutting 18 million tonnes of CO2 annually in Europe alone.

Moving forward, the successful implementation of the Single European Sky initiative will require the development of a clearer governance structure, outlining key responsibilities between the EU Institutions, member states and industry stakeholders. It should also build upon interoperable, current and new technologies and aircraft capabilities.

The EBAA urges the EU Institutions and member states to consider the steps necessary to achieving the goals of the Single European Sky, assessing their potential impact, costs and benefits. Finally, it calls on the European institutions to simplify the regulatory framework and institutional set-up to make the European ATM system fit for the future.

The Single European Sky initiative was launched in 2004 with the goal of improving the performance of air traffic management (ATM) in Europe in terms of safety, capacity, cost-efficiency and environment. In light of growing air traffic and societal and technological developments, the momentum for a reform of the Single European Sky is growing.

Global passenger traffic is expected to double by 2037 – accommodating this growth while at the same time addressing its environmental and social impacts is key. The Single European Sky is an effective way to address European aviation environmental challenges by delivering an efficient and integrated air traffic management system. It will require the introduction of new technologies, interoperability of systems, harmonised regulation and adequate infrastructure.