Beyond air traffic management: Reaching for Europe’s skies, Europe’s future

Collaboration, deployment and funding are key to promoting Europe's strategic ambitions through aviation, policymakers, industry leaders and research stakeholders heard at Brussels Airport on 12 October 2026. This year's SESAR Joint Undertaking Annual Conference brought together 450 participants to discuss the value of air traffic management (ATM) innovation under the theme "Europe's skies, Europe's future".

Held under the patronage of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the conference featured panel discussions exploring ATM's role in meeting Europe's strategic ambitions, the need to accelerate deployment and how to shape the future of SESAR. A hot seat session also examined resilience in a rapidly changing geopolitical context. Beyond the conference sessions, the Digital European Sky Marketplace, featuring 40 project stands, showcased the latest SESAR research results, technologies and solutions through demonstrations and exchanges with project teams.

Supporting Europe's strategic ambitions

Opening the conference, Andreas Boschen, Executive Director of the SESAR Joint Undertaking, underlined that the issues at stake go well beyond air traffic management: "They are about Europe's connectivity and competitiveness. They are about capacity, resilience and security. They are about sustainability and technological leadership. And ultimately, they are about Europe's ability to shape its own future."

Echoing this message Seán Canney TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Ireland, Chair of the TTE Transport Council said: "Europe must have an air traffic management system capable of supporting our future connectivity, competitiveness, climate objectives, security and resilience."

"This is an opportunity to think critically about the future. How best can SESAR support Europe's broader strategic priorities?" asked Canney. "We are at a time of significant change. But change also brings opportunities."

The first panel explored these ambitions in more detail. Panellists highlighted the strength of Europe's aviation industry and its technological capabilities, but also warned that fragmentation remains a major obstacle. They discussed how digitalisation, automation and data sharing can help modernise airspace, increase capacity and efficiency, and strengthen the resilience of the European network.

Better together

"Europe is not starting from zero," said Boschen, speaking as the SESAR JU reaches its halfway point. Almost 190 solutions have now been delivered for implementation, including 48 new solutions from the first wave of the programme. The strength of SESAR lies in bringing these different actors together, pooling expertise and aligning efforts to modernise Europe's skies.

Evidence of that collaborative strength was on display at the Digital European Sky Awards 2026, which recognised outstanding work across exploratory research, industrial research and demonstration activities. The jury awards went to the ORCI, ATC-TBO and HERON projects, with HERON also receiving the People's Choice awards.

Read about the winners

"No single organisation can transform aviation on its own," said Arnaud Feist, Chief Executive Officer, Brussels Airport Company. "Progress happens when we work together and through SESAR we can combine our expertise. We can test solutions in real operations and we can put them into everyday use. That collaboration is essential to building a safer, more efficient and more sustainable aviation system."

Made in Europe

"SESAR is a true European success story," said Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Member of the European Parliament. "Around 70% of the world's skies are managed today by solutions made in Europe."

But he added that, when it comes to ATM, Europe is better at finding innovations than at using them. "We have developed solutions and demonstrated that they work. Now we must make sure they are actually deployed," he said. This includes "turbocharging" deployment, both through building on the assets Europe already has, ensuring closer alignment between research and deployment, engaging earlier with regulators and operational users, participants said.

Against that backdrop, the conference saw the handover to the European Commission of a proposal for a second Common Project (CP2). Developed by stakeholders from across the European ATM community, led by SESAR JU, the proposal sets out the technologies, services and operational improvements that need to be deployed in a synchronised way across Europe.

Looking forward

The conference concluded by looking ahead to the next chapter of SESAR, as discussions continue on the EU's next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the future direction of European research and innovation. With Europe seeking to strengthen its competitiveness and technological leadership, the smart and clean aviation moonshot proposed by the European Commission offers an opportunity to set an ambitious, shared direction for the sector, bringing together innovation and deployment to deliver a more connected, resilient and sustainable European aviation system.

Panel discussions explored how to build on the achievements of the SESAR JU partnership, highlighting the importance of clear priorities, realistic timelines and sustained investment. They also stressed the need to support early movers, manage the transition from legacy systems and bring people along with technological change.

These points were echoed in the closing reflections between Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, and Andreas Boschen. While the shape of the next European partnerships and funding arrangements remains subject to the MFF negotiations, Kopczyńska concluded that "ATM and research and development in the ATM area will be needed and is needed", adding that SESAR community's contribution to "European policy objectives" remains as important as ever.

Read about the conference's press release