Matthew Baldwin, Director Air Transport Directorate, European Commission
« SESAR and the Single European Sky are prerequisites for the prosperity and the competitiveness of the European Union. If we don’t do something, costs will go into billions. »
Manfred Mohr, Lufthansa, SESAR airspace user representative
« Europe needs an efficient and user-friendly ATM system. SESAR is set out to provide this; the involvement of the airspace users will ensure that the system developed matches our operational needs, is environmentally sustainable, fit for purpose and brings benefits to our passengers. »
Siim Kallas, Vice President and commissioner responsible for transport - European Commission
« The biggest challenge (for SES) is institutional, organizational challenge. Not technological nor even financial ... Technology part is already settled, SESAR will be developed ...and so far is developing very well »
Tom Enders, CEO Airbus
« In the high density coastal areas of Asia, Europe and the US, there is a jostling for space in the sky and on the ground at peak times. Airbus and Boeing are actively involved in both SESAR and NextGen, showing that even competitors work together to find solutions. »
Jean-Claude Marcourt, Minister of Economy – Wallonia – EU Belgian Presidency
« Public-private partnerships can reinforce the efficiency of public policies and business strategies. In this respect, the SESAR Joint Undertaking is a good example of a win-win operation. »
Siim Kallas, European Commission Vice-President responsible for Transport
« We need effective governance & innovative funds for the deployment of SES technologies. This is a priority for the next Financial Perspectives. »
Daniel Calleja, Deputy Director General Enterprise and Industry (& former Director Air Transport) – European Commission
« The SESAR Joint Undertaking constitutes a powerful public-private partnership which brings together all the stakeholders from the ATM community, including air navigation service providers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, civil and military representatives and two international organisations, the European Union and Eurocontrol. »
Giovanni Bisignani, Former Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
« I applaud the leadership of Minister Blanco and Vice President Kallas to urgently fast track implementation of the Single European Sky. The volcanic ash crisis that paralyzed European air transport for nearly a week made it crystal clear that the Single European Sky is a critical missing link in Europe’s infrastructure. We have been discussing the Single European Sky for decades. It was a priority of the European Commission as far back as the early 1990’s when I was Chairman of the Association of European Airlines. The technical plans are in place. The 4 May meeting must back up the technical preparations with an implementation time line for a fully integrated Single European Sky and the political will to achieve it. The Single European Sky is much broader than a crisis management mechanism. It will improve Europe’s competitiveness and environmental performance. The inefficiency of the current system is a EUR 5 billion burden on Europe’s economy and wastes 16 million tonnes of CO2 in delays and indirect routings. »
Giovanni Bisignani, Former Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
« SESAR needs to deliver results on the industry's top priorities - safety, environmental responsibility and financial sustainability. It must also be completed on time and in-line with customer needs. Today's agreement is important because it accelerates validation of future technologies with flight trials in real conditions. »
Daniel Calleja, Deputy Director General Enterprise and Industry (& former Director Air Transport) – European Commission
« SESAR is one of the most important research and development projects ever launched by the European Union - While the Single European Sky’s regulations will provide a revised legal framework for a more efficient, performance driven, safer and greener procedures for the air traffic management, the SESAR programme will deliver technological solutions, functionalities, systems and standards which will be deployed in Europe. The SESAR Joint Undertaking constitutes a powerful public-private partnership which brings together all the stakeholders from the ATM community, including air navigation service providers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, civil and military representatives and two international organisations, the European Union and Eurocontrol. »
Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission (and former Commissioner for Transport)
« In the context of a global recession, the financing and timely development of SESAR has become literally vital. Public-private funding kicks in to support ATM research & development at a time when global economic uncertainty is prompting businesses to manage their cash with extreme caution. On top of green and safety objectives, SESAR will also contribute to the viability of the entire sector, as it will cut air transport operating costs in the longer term. »
David McMillan, Director General of EUROCONTROL
« As a founding member of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, EUROCONTROL has a particular responsibility to work with the 16 partners with which agreements were signed today and ensure the programme’s successful development. SESAR’s innovative work to build the future European air traffic management system and to fit it within a global context is well underway and will deliver important benefits to society and airspace users alike. »
Dominique Bussereau, French Minister for Transport, representing the Council of the European Union
« It is the first time ever that a partnership of this importance and with this many partners has been created in the air traffic management sector. With SESAR, Europe will not only have the safest and most modern ATM infrastructure (an infrastructure which will be greener too), but will also continue to be a leader in the wider aeronautics sector. »
Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission (and former Commissioner for Transport)
« This is one of the most complex research and development programmes ever launched by the European Community. The positive impact of SESAR’s goals on the day-to-day activities of the air space users, passengers, air traffic controllers and citizens will include fewer delays, lower fuel consumption, improved efficiency, time gains and increased airport capacity. »
Daniel Calleja, Deputy Director General Enterprise and Industry (& former Director Air Transport) – European Commission
« SESAR is a truly new approach to ATM modernisation, providing guidance and leadership to all ATM –related activities in Europe. »
David McMillan, Director General of EUROCONTROL
« Compared with today’s way of managing aircraft, SESAR represents a paradigm shift, achieved in clear steps. We will change the way we manage air traffic : no more skyways, just the most efficient trajectory – saving fuel and time. »
Press contact
Ms Elisabeth Schoeffmann
Communication Associate
E-mail: elisabeth.schoeffmann@sesarju.eu
Phone: +32 (0)2 507 80 30
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