7.3 Return on investment
As illustrated in Figure 16, the potential operational benefits for investors in SESAR solutions significantly outweigh the required investments. By 2050, the combined benefits associated with SESAR deployment across airport and airspace capacity, fuel efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, passenger time savings and the cost efficiency of air navigation services is estimated at approximately EUR 318 billion.
Figure 16: Cumulative performance benefits and investments (1)
Activities directly enabled by SESAR investments (e.g. value of additional flights) will generate additional value, expected to amount to EUR 109 billion (see Figure 16). The projected overall benefits for SESAR investors are estimated at EUR 427 billion by 2050.
The return on investment for investors (2) (excluding U-space) is projected to be EUR 7 for every euro invested in SESAR by 2040, increasing to EUR 17 by 2050 (3).
Direct benefits for the European economy and society (see Figure 17) will be substantial, totalling approximately EUR 1 375 billion. Every euro invested in SESAR is estimated to result in EUR 54 in socio-economic benefits.
(1) The figure takes into account investments in both crewed and uncrewed aviation but excludes benefits for U-space and remotely piloted aircraft systems.
(2) Return on investment measures the return (profit or loss) generated on an investment relative to its costs.
(3) Further information is available on the SESAR 3 JU website in the European ATM Master Plan 2025 - Benefits and Investment Needs - Companion Document.
(4) ANS, air navigation service; PAX, passenger traffic.