Single Sky Package II: welcome step towards Single Sky

Today's announcement by the European Commission on the second Single European Sky legislative package (SES II) is a crucial and welcome step towards a true 'Single Sky' and greater cost efficiencies, IACA believes.

The Commission's SES II package is an important acknowledgement that there is an urgent need for change in the current air traffic management system in Europe and that only through a reinforced Community framework will there be full convergence in regulation, deployment of technology and Air Traffic Management.

Commenting on the announcement, IACA Director General, Sylviane Lust said:

"The implementation of a genuine Single European Sky is long overdue.  It is absolutely vital for European aviation in helping to reduce flight times, costs and CO2 emissions."

"In today's fragile economic environment, it is no longer tolerable that airlines and passengers pay unnecessary costs for the inefficiencies of the European Air Traffic Management System in terms of time, fuel burn and money".

"IACA is particularly supportive of the introduction of binding performance targets for Air Navigation Services providers.  This will create a good incentive to integrate service provision into functional airspace blocks."

"There should be no excuses from EU member states now for not implementing this package quickly as the benefits are clear to see, especially as it will deliver significant reductions in CO2 emissions from aviation."

The International Air Carrier Association (IACA) represents 38 airlines serving the leisure industry. IACA members operate over 800 state-of-the-art, environmentally efficient aircraft and directly employ more than 50,000 people. Each year IACA airlines transport over 100 million passengers to 650 holiday destinations worldwide.