Giovanni Bisignani, 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, 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, Director Air Transport Directorate – 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 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 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, Director Air Transport Directorate – 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
Mr Eric Platteau
Chief Communication
E-mail: eric.platteau@sesarju.eu
Phone: +32 (0)2 507 80 12
Ms Elisabeth Schoeffmann
Communication Associate
E-mail: elisabeth.schoeffmann@sesarju.eu
Phone: +32 (0)2 507 80 30
