Brussels' transport chief demands a single European sky to end 'air traffic gridlock'

EC officials are pushing for countries in the 28-member bloc to bring an end to "gridlock in the skies" above Europe, by urging them to be more flexible about national airspace.

The EU's transport commissioner, Violeta Bulc, said during a speech in Rome, Italy on Friday that attitudes needed to change to address what she claimed was "approaching the limit of what our [air traffic control] systems can manage."

She alarmingly warned that failure to be more open about how EU countries control flights, which apparently involve around 28,000 air traffic movements a day, could prove to be a huge blow to the economy.

Bulc, who is from Slovenia, added:

The vast majority of flights cross a border; you can cross a whole country such as mine within minutes. Yet, too often, the aviation system still remains confined to national boundaries. With zig-zags making the average flight nearly 50 kilometres longer than it could be. With tens of millions of minutes of delay each year. All these add confusion and they add cost.

This has a high price tag. Fragmentation costs 5 billion euros every year; 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year; it's costing us growth and it's costing us jobs. This is what we could get back with a single European Sky.

I want to be clear: this is not a challenge to European diversity or the sovereignty of any country. It is not about procedures, powers or prerogatives. No: it is about our people. About finding a better system that can support what they need, and what the aviation sector needs. About how we can change, and best meet those needs.

She claimed that such a move would lead to a better deal for European consumers.

However, according to Reuters, the delay to a planned revamp of air traffic control systems continued after the commissioner failed to strike a deal with EU transport ministers and watchdogs at the meeting in Rome.

Bulc appeared upbeat, despite the latest setback.

"We cannot deal with a reality based mainly around international flights with national systems," she reportedly said.

"Be flexible, we will find the right compromise." ®