EU one step closer to unified air transport

BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) on Friday announced that its Commission adopted rules to harmonize information between all the actors involved in creating the Single European Sky.

Member States decided to create nine common geographical air spaces called the Functional Airspace Blocks (FABs) and is to be established by December 2012. The adopted regulation will be unifying Europe's air space, spelling out the information to be exchanged between everyone involved.

The FABs are expected to improve current safety standards, enable planes to take much shorter routes and as a result will reduce aviation's impact on the environment, minimize delays, lower costs for companies and finally make flights cheaper for passengers.

FABs, as a major tool for overcoming the fragmentation of European skies will be established by Member States and will only be put in place following proper consultation of all stakeholders.

"This Regulation paves the way for a productive cooperation between all parties involved in Functional Airspace Blocks by clarifying the rules on exchanging information," said Vice-President Siim Kallas, Commissioner responsible for transport.

"It will really help to accelerate the creation of the Single European Sky," Kallas added.

Friday's Regulation will allow comparative assessment of different FABs and sound mutual consultations of all actors involved. It will keep the Commission and other bodies informed of their progress and any modifications that could affect other FABs.

In fulfilling the information requirements, Members States will give FABs the tools for establishing a performing European airspace by the deadline required by the European Parliament and the Council. For air navigation service providers they will facilitate the response to new binding performance targets established under the Single European Sky legislation.

(BNO NEWS )