Tag: single european sky

SPECIAL REPORT / Labour actions by French air traffic controllers who oppose longstanding EU plans to overhaul air traffic management demonstrate that efforts to improve aviation efficiency and reduce nuisances in Europe’s crowded airspace will not happen easily. EurActiv reports from the Paris Air Show.

The European Commission should end national monopolies of air traffic control if it is to succeed in making air travel more efficient, an executive of low-cost leader Ryanair told EU officials yesterday (21 January).

SPECIAL REPORT / Europe’s plan to consolidate a patchwork of national air traffic control systems to reduce flight delays and boost environmental performance appears grounded for now, hampered by national governments’ inaction and fear of losing sovereignty. EurActiv reports from the Farnborough Airshow.

To maintain world leadership, the EU aeronautics industry must not rest on its laurels, but rather seek to increase funding in research and development and team up with universities to produce the high-skilled workers needed to face up to global competition.

Cheaper airline tickets, shorter flight times, less pollution and no more air borders: these are the expected benefits of the 'Single European Sky II' package of legislation adopted by the European Parliament yesterday (25 March).

It is not possible to modernise European air traffic management infrastructure unless competing companies work together and airlines are involved in the development of new technologies to ensure that they satisfy operational needs, the executive director of an EU programme aimed at overhauling Europe's airspace told EurActiv in an interview.

EU transport ministers have reached agreement on the technical details of Europe's next-generation air traffic management system, paving the way for shorter flights and reduced CO2 emissions from air traffic.

With 27 separate airspaces, Europe's skies are getting increasingly crowded and polluted, leading the EU to push for the realisation of a "Single European Sky". But member states' reluctance to hand over sovereignty in this area could be slowing down the process.

The Parliament and the Council reached an agreement in conciliation on 9 December that paves the way for a single system of air traffic control in Europe, known as the Single European Sky.

On 3 October, the Council discussed Commissioner de Palacio's proposals for a Single European Sky. A political agreement is expected only in December.