Strasbourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – MEPs supported more efficient and greener EU airspace paving the way for improved control of European airspace, enabling more direct flights and fewer delays, and backing climate neutrality.
EU Parliament endorsed reform of Single European Sky laws, already agreed upon in negotiations with the Council last March, supports national performance plans for air navigation services and will assist in enhancing EU airspace management.Â
How will airspace reforms enhance efficiency and sustainability?
As reported by the Press of the EU Parliament these programs will have crucial targets and incentives to make flights more efficient and environmentally friendly. A separate advisory Performance Review Board would be formed to help the Commission and EU member states in making conclusions on implementing these plans. In addition, the EU Commission will assume EU performance targets on capacity, cost efficiency, climate and environmental elements for air navigation services, to be inspected at least every three years.
Moreover, MEPs secured a condition that tasks the EU Commission with assessing how charges imposed on airspace users (airlines or private plane operators) for providing air navigation services could promote them to become more environmentally friendly, for example by utilising the most fuel-efficient available routing or alternative clean propulsion technologies.
How do reforms aim to reduce flight delays and costs?
In his remarks, MEP Jens Gieseke said: “The reform is a step forward in removing bottlenecks, creating more efficient air traffic control and management, and reducing costs and emissions through shorter and safer flights, from which all European airlines, and especially European citizens, will benefit. The creation of a truly single European airspace, however, has been blocked by member states, unwilling to give up national powers for the greater good. I now call on member states to constructively implement this reform.”Â
