However, a few of them have relieved the monopolistic situation with local designation at some airports, resulting in important associated cost reductions and without challenging the overall safety of the system. Despite some incentives, the majority of EU member states have designated a single provider of air traffic services for the entire airspace including, but not limited to, en-route, approach and terminal services. This scheme should bring out enhanced solutions for air navigation services in Europe by identifying the most efficient providers. Beside the optimisation of airport infrastructure, the European Commission relies on the pillar of implementing a performance-based regulatory framework scheme to help stakeholders to benchmark different providers. Despite having achieved some successes, there remains some unfinished work and thus unmet expectations. To foster improved performance in the European sky, almost 15 years ago the European Commission launched the Single European Sky 2 initiative. Today, the key factors for airport operators are customer satisfaction, better performance, enhanced safety, cost management and operational efficiency – the same as any individual stakeholders contributing to airport operations.

The ambitious incomplete ‘Single European Sky’ initiative Regarding air navigation services at airports, liberalisation does not seem to be high on the political agenda right now, but some European countries have at least decided to leave a degree of freedom to eventually designate a new provider at their airports. Will upcoming further national regulations allow airport operators to choose the provider of terminal air navigation services? Aviation regulators have already opened the market for other crucial stakeholders, such as ground services providers, airport security, food and retail dealers and valet parking services.

Today it is an integral consideration in new air traffic management (ATM) concepts (e.g. Since then, the technology and philosophy that supports the provision of air navigation services at airports have evolved and are considered part of the entire journey of an aircraft. This was initially to comply with the Chicago Convention, but also to guarantee the enforcement of sovereignty over state territory. Therefore, it is crucial for an airport operator to have a reliable provider managing safe take-offs and landings, regardless of whether it has been designated by law, or the operator itself through a call of tender or contractual agreement.įor historical reasons, air navigation services have mostly been provided by public-owned companies over the entire territory, from ground to space. NO AIRCRAFT or passengers can be adequately processed at an airport without the support of air traffic services.

Air navigation services provider