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With entry into force of the »SES-II« package in the EU as well as the new rules governing air traffic management in Germany, important steps have been taken towards the Single European Sky in the second half of 2009.

This must be followed by rapid completion. The Single European Sky will benefit environment, passengers and airlines.

On 4 December 2009, the so-called »SES-II« package came into force. This constitutes a further development of the fundamental EU regulations on creation of a Single European Sky dating back to 2004 (»SES-I« package). The »SES-II« package essentially pursues two objectives. First, it sets out to improve the hitherto unsatisfactory performance of the existing fragmented air traffic management system by introducing binding performance targets for safety, flight efficiency and capacity, sustainability and cost-efficiency. In addition, »SES-II« seeks to accelerate realisation of a Single European Sky. To that end, the regulation now stipulates a fixed date for the next stage: so-called »- Functional Airspace Blocks« (FABs) have to be put in place by groups of countries by the end of 2012.

FABs are large blocks of airspace which will be organised according to traffic flows rather than national boundaries. Germany is planning to create the »Functional Airspace Block Europe Central« (FABEC) jointly with France, the Benelux countries and Switzerland. These six countries are currently negotiating a treaty aimed at creating a common airspace block and an
air traffic management system which is rather independent of national airspace boundaries. Signature of the treaty is pencilled in for the second half of 2010. The FAB Europe Central represents the nucleus of a pan-European sky and is therefore the next decisive step along the road to the Single European Sky.

Environment, passengers and airlines alike will benefit from a Single European Sky with a common cross-border air traffic management system. As a result of the diversions made necessary by fragmented air traffic management in Europe, each flight today is 50 km on average longer than it needs to be.

By contrast, the Single European Sky will allow more direct flight routes. That saves time, kerosene and money. The corresponding CO2 emissions will reduce by up to 12 percent. This
means that airlines can avoid at least 11 million tonnes of CO2 each year. In addition, the annual cost savings will be more than 3 billion euros. In BDI’s view, this is reason enough for the
new European Commission and the German government now to complete the Single European Sky rapidly and with determination.