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The Single European Sky will reform the European air traffic management architecture so that aircraft can pass it through it quicker, reducing cost, delays and fuel consumption.

Currently, each country controls its own airspace with different, pre-determined routes across the countries. This means planes can find themselves having to zig-zag across Europe to avoid, for example military airspace. In some cases they burn around 10 per cent more fuel than they need to – which is very costly in the current climate.

The EU estimates that air traffic could double by 2020, requiring increased capacity in the air and on the ground with heightened  safety rules in place to  ensure traffic can grow accordingly.

Linking technology and systems across Europe and ultimately globally through system wide connectivity will mean that complex air navigation will be easier to manage.

The memorandum of understanding signed by controller organisations who include the IAA, NATS, Naviair and LFV will look at boosting the improvements of  combined airspace.

Tim Hardy, BAA’s airside director, said, “With aviation playing such a critical role in supporting international economic growth, it is vital we do everything we can to improve operational efficiency, improve punctuality and reduce both costs and carbon emissions. Modernising Europe’s airspace so aircraft can fly more direct routes using less fuel makes perfect sense and we are delighted that it is moving one step to becoming reality.”