Air traffic management

[5][6] In Europe, the organisation of ATM is highly fragmented, with each member state having its own ANSPs operating airport towers and centres[7] under various ownership models.

[8] Apart from five largest ANSPs (DFS in Germany, DSNA in France, ENAIRE in Spain, ENAV in Italy and NATS in the UK) bearing 60% of total European gate-to-gate service provision costs and operating 54% of European traffic, the remaining 40% of gate-to-gate traffic (airport towers and approach services) costs are borne by 32 smaller ANSPs.

[8] Such fragmentation leads to delays[5] and costs EUR 4 bn a year.

[8] The Single European Sky programme was due to be delivered in 2020 but despite extensive collaboration (such as Functional Airspace Blocks transcending national borders) and research, this has not yet been successful.

Recent system developments balance interests of airspace and runways on one side, and capacity overloads for taxiway network and terminals on the other.