Summit on Northern European airspace cooperation in Oslo

Avinor was the host for a summit meeting where the agreement was signed. The agreement will enable more coordinated planning of air traffic than previously in this part of Northern Europe. This will benefit the airlines and armed forces in the form of flexible sectors and direct and seamless routes. This will save time and fuel and not least reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is also good news for the airports and passengers it allows for even better planning of traffic, with a positive effect on punctuality.

Great Britain and Ireland to join?
It is a goal to extend cooperation to more countries, first and foremost Great Britain and Ireland, within the framework of a collaboration project termed Borealis. This extended alliance is initially working to establish a regulatory framework between the countries, as well as guidelines for how one will implement joint measures in the long term.

Airspace blocks
Within the EU-operated Single European Sky programme, the establishment of airspace blocks cooperation between two or more countries on the use of airspace is considered by the EU to be one of the most important measures on the road to more efficient use of European airspace. Avinor is cooperating with Finland, Estonia and Latvia on the NEFAB airspace block, which is currently under development. According to plan, NEFAB will be organizationally established and in operation by the end of 2012. Sweden and Denmark have chosen to establish their own airspace block, based on a collaboration programme they have had for several years. The two countries have established a separate company NUAC HB. The goal is that this company will be responsible for in-flight services in Sweden and Denmark during the course of 2012.

Cooperation between the airspace blocks in Northern Europe is being developed with an aim of a possible merger if this will lead to further efficiency benefits for airspace users.