Markets in air traffic control and the evolving role of eurocontrol

Leading decision makers, academics and experts including Frank Brenner, Director of Eurocontrol, and Matthew Baldwin, Director for Air Aviation and International Transport Policy in DG MOVE, gathered at the 5th Florence Air Forum to discuss “the market approach” in Air traffic Control (ATC) and the evolving role of Eurocontrol. Both issues are closely related: Eurocontrol supports the introduction of market elements for certain ATC support services in order to increase efficiency in the Single European Sky without conflicting with its Member States’ interest to maintain a national Air Traffic Control system. This in turn will contribute to further evolving the role of Eurocontrol and reshaping the current structure of ATC in Europe. One part of the discussion focussed on where and how market elements can play a role in air traffic management whereas the other part looked at what governance structure would be appropriate and which actors could take over which functions in the future.