IATA highlights threats to SES 2+ goals: Reduced capacity, safety, and environmental gains

Friday, March 22, 2024

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a statement as the Council is set to vote on changes to the Single European Sky (SES) 2+ package. These amendments are likely to significantly undermine its goal of updating air traffic management across Europe.

Originally, the SES aimed to increase the capacity of Europe’s airspace threefold, reduce costs by 50%, enhance safety tenfold, and boost environmental efficiency by 10%. However, the compromise expected to be ratified by the Member States this Friday will hinder the SES from fulfilling its objectives. This will negatively affect Europe’s competitive edge and miss an important opportunity for emission reductions.

“Failure. All we have to show for the years of SES2+ discussions to unite Europe’s skies is a grubby deal that sells out to narrow national interests and creates a few useless jobs for bureaucrats supported by the European political elite. Oblivious to the consequences, those involved will no doubt soon be patting themselves on the back. Meanwhile travelers, the environment and airlines must prepare to pay with delays, higher costs and unnecessary emissions. It’s a deal that should not be done,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

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