2. Introduction

Air traffic management (ATM) is a central component of the air transport ecosystem and provides essential safety- and security-critical services for Europe. The main objective of ATM is to ensure that all types of aircraft fly safely and as efficiently as possible. ATM relies on a complex organisation of procedures and technologies, requiring a high level of coordination, harmonisation and interoperability between all stakeholders. It plays a crucial role in supporting economic activities and connecting people across the globe. This chapter provides context for the European ATM Master Plan, explaining the drivers of this new edition and how it is structured.

Aviation is in the spotlight because of environmental issues linked to the consumption of fossil fuels and the resulting emissions (CO₂/non-CO₂), local air quality and noise. On a global scale, aviation contributes approximately 2–3 % of total anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. However, as other industries transition to cleaner energy sources at a faster rate, the relative proportion of aviation emissions is anticipated to increase over the coming years. CO₂ emissions for intra-European flights increased by 9 million tonnes in 2023 (+ 12 %) relative to 2022 (1). Improvements in ATM can contribute considerably to the mitigation of these emissions. Indeed, the ATM-related benefit pool for tackling CO₂ inefficiencies is estimated at around 9.3 % (2) for the European ATM network in general.

ATM itself is also impacted by climate change. Adverse weather caused by climate change is becoming a major cause of en route capacity constraints in Europe, where the demand for mobility and air transport continues to grow. The proportion of commercial flights is expected to rise by 57 %, to approximately 16 million, in 2050 (3), even without considering new forms of air mobility (e.g. innovative air mobility (IAM), higher airspace operations). From 2035 onwards, zero-emission aircraft (e.g. hydrogen and electric) will enter into service. However, they are expected to carry fewer passengers than current aircraft; therefore, more flights will be required to move the same number of people.

Airspace will become more complex to manage with new types of air vehicles, such as drones, air taxis and high-altitude aircraft. This increasingly dense and complex mix of traffic will place extra pressure on ATM’s capacity and its ability to provide the most environmentally efficient routes while maintaining safety as the paramount feature.

In addition, geopolitical crises, security threats and natural events all contribute to significant stress on air transport; today, the Russian war against Ukraine has reduced the airspace available for civil aviation in Europe by around 20 %.

All these factors call for a more scalable, resilient and efficient ATM system, leveraging digitalisation and automation to allow aircraft to fly optimal flight trajectories anywhere and at any time in the network. The cross-border nature of air transport and stringent safety and security requirements necessitate interoperable ATM systems and high levels of coordination between civil and military stakeholders.

Balancing these complex factors and objectives while maintaining Europe’s competitive edge in the global air transport system is a formidable challenge that no single Member State, ATM organisation or operational stakeholder can tackle alone. Addressing this challenge requires a common vision for the future ATM system and a collective effort, involving all stakeholders, to achieve that vision. This is the objective of the Single European Sky (SES), of SESAR and of the European ATM Master Plan.