Under the current network structure, aircraft fly an average of 20 km further than the most direct route between two points. This SESAR Solution represents a step forward with respect to the user-preferred routing solution. It offers more direct flight planning route options on a large scale, crossing flight information regions and national borders.

Direct routing allows airspace users the possibility to plan a route close to their preferred flight path by selecting a direct route - connecting published waypoints - without the need for the intermediate points to be present in the current fixed-route network. The extension of direct routes across flight information regions and national boundaries require appropriate airspace changes, as well as new flight data processing systems from airspace users. Advanced flexible use of airspace at the regional scale supports the use of direct routing operations.

Published direct routes are established within local and regional documentation and then made available for flight planning. SESAR continues to support validation activities to assess the operational acceptability of cross-border direct routing operations.

The SESAR Solution is available for industrialisation and is being implemented across the whole of Europe’s upper airspace as part of synchronised deployment. The Solution has been implemented in the following countries:Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Ukraine

SJU references: #32/Release 5

Benefits

  • Increased airspace capacity
  • Improved operational efficiency
  • Reduced fuel burn and emissions

Datapack

Contextual Note

Regulatory overview

SPR

TS 

 

# 32 /Release 5
Deployed

Key area

Advanced air traffic services

Benefits

Optimised capacity
Reduced fuel consumption and emissions

Stakeholders

ANSP
AU
NM
Maturity level: V3/TRL6
Datapack: Yes

Implementation locations

  • Albania
  • Armenia
  • Austria
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Kosovo
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonia
  • Moldova
  • Montenegro
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Serbia
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • Ukraine