The European Commission designated a group of airlines, air navigation service providers (Ansps) and airports to serve as the Single European Sky ATM Research (Sesar) program “Deployment Manager” to implement common modernization programs. The group will “coordinate and synchronize” €3 billion ($3.7 billion) in upgrades to Europe’s air traffic management system for an initial period of six years.
The group's membership consists of four airlines: Air France-KLM, easyJet, IAG and Lufthansa Group, known as the A4 airline group. Ansps are represented by the A6 alliance of Germany’s DFS, France’s DSNA, Spain’s ENAIRE and UK NATS. In turn, they are working with the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency and a group representing AustroControl, Croatia Control, the Irish Aviation Authority, Sweden’s LFV and Denmark’s Naviair. The Sesar Deployment Airport Group consists of 25 airports, all members of Airports Council International.
Richard Deakin, UK NATS chief executive, representing the Sesar Deployment Alliance, and European Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc signed the partnership agreement in Brussels on December 5.
“Today's agreement…marks an important step toward the accomplishment of the Single European Sky,” said Bulc, the deputy prime minister of Slovenia who became transport commissioner in November. “These projects will translate into economic benefits for the whole European Union with a contribution of over €400 billion to its GDP, the creation of over 300,000 new jobs and savings of 50 million tons of CO2 emissions.”
