As European air traffic continues to grow and our airspace becomes more complex, European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) are facing a critical juncture in terms of what they can offer their customers, the airspace users. Under the EU legal framework for the Single European Sky, the ATM Performance and Charging Scheme(1), ANSPs’ investments in staff and infrastructure are limited. The EU must decide whether it wants a healthy air transport market for airlines and their passengers, or one that puts cost savings ahead of reliability.
European air navigation service providers are required to ensure safe, stable and efficient airspace operations. However, they must now also adapt to increasing traffic volumes in an increasingly demanding environment. The conflict in Ukraine has had a profound impact, shifting traffic patterns across Europe and closing airspace for military purposes. In addition, bad weather events are becoming increasingly frequent, disrupting flight schedules. The result is far greater volatility in European airspace at a time when there is more air traffic.
The cost-efficiency targets recently set by the European Commission for the fourth reference period of the performance scheme (FP4, 2025-2029) continue this outdated approach. Over the last two decades, the overall costs of air navigation services have generally remained stable, while the general trend in air traffic volumes has been increasing. The result is insufficient ATM capacity and more delays in managing air traffic flows, especially during peak travel periods. The EU’s cost-efficiency targets are therefore a false economy measure.
Simon Hocquard, Director General of CANSO, said: “Airlines and their passengers are increasingly demanding more capacity, but CANSO members are limited in their investment to provide the required capacity. We therefore call on the European Commission to take a new approach to ATM regulation and to support future investments in ATM that will transform our industry. This is the only way air navigation service providers can cope with the continued growth in traffic.”
As airlines continue to order more aircraft, they expect air navigation service providers to meet the increasing demand. To provide them with what they need and what their passengers deserve, the regulatory framework should prioritise objectives that enable traffic growth and facilitate technological change. Performance targets should be set in such a way that air navigation service providers can plan for large investments in new technologies, new procedures and new air traffic controllers.
“We are aware that the European Commission is in a difficult position when it comes to finding a generally acceptable long-term solution to the airspace capacity problem. We therefore call on the aviation industry and the Commission to work with CANSO to ensure efficient growth of the aviation sector in Europe,” says Mr Hocquard.
(1) SES performance and charging – European Commission (europa.eu)
