European airline lobbying group A4E is calling on the EU to take immediate action to tackle ‘bottlenecks’ affecting European air space.
Gathering in Brussels this week, the chief operating officers of Europe’s top airlines told the EU to make urgent changes.
They say the current air traffic control system has reached its limit and caused unacceptable delays last summer.
"The reputation of Europe is at stake," said A4E managing director Thomas Reynaert.
"Reform of EU airspace must be a top priority for the next Commission and all involved national bodies. Passengers deserve an efficient European aviation industry and that can only be delivered with a seamless approach to EU airspace."
Eurocontrol data shows there were 9.32 million minutes of en-route delays in 2017 and by the end of this year the figure is expected to increase by 50%.
The airlines, association of air navigation service providers (CANSO), European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and Eurocontrol, have signed up to the A4E ‘Efficient Airspace Declaration’.
A number of ‘quick win’ network measures are planned to improve air traffic management in 2019.
"It’s really essential that all parties work together over the coming months in order to minimise potential delays next summer," said Eamonn Brennan, director general at Eurocontrol.
A4E is calling for the creation of a future airspace which seamlessly integrates the different national airspaces under a single operational concept.
It wants EU member States to maintain sovereignty of their airspace while cooperating across borders in order to make flight operations seamless and more efficient.
