Aircraft takeoff – Photo by Vincent Albos on Pexels
(BRUSSELS) – After a decade of negotiations the European Parliament and the EU Council agreed Wednesday on new EU rules to optimise flight routes, reduce flight delays and cut CO2 emissions.
The agreed text introduces performance plans for air navigation services to improve network management of EU airspace, with binding targets and incentives to make flights more efficient and environmentally friendly. An independent advisory Performance Review Board would be set up to help Commission and member states take decisions on the implementation of these plans.
MEPs secured provisions to make air navigation services and network management contribute to climate neutrality. Under the rules the Commission will adopt EU performance targets on capacity, cost efficiency, climate and environmental factors for air navigation services. The performance of these services against these targets would be reviewed at least every three years.
The Commission will also have to conduct a study to help define how charges levied on airspace users (airlines or private planes operators) for the provision of air navigation services could encourage them to be more environmentally friendly, for example by using the most fuel-efficient available routing or alternative clean propulsion technologies.
Finally, the bill includes the possibility for air-traffic service providers to procure other air navigation services, such as communication, meteorological or aeronautical information services, under market conditions.
The informal deal on Single European Sky still needs to be approved by EU member state representatives and Parliament’s Transport and Tourism committee, and then the Parliament and Council as a whole.
Procedure file, European Parliament
Single European Sky, European Commission (background information)
