Industry Leaders Offer to Work with Government to Improve Airspace Efficiency in Poland

 

Rzeszow – Representatives of industries involved in Poland’s aerospace sector, and other businesses that use air transport, met in Rzeszow this week to highlight the value of aviation for Poland and focus on improvements to the country’s air navigation services (ANS).

Air traffic control across Europe is facing a crisis as failure to reform and modernize ANS is leading to greater delays, increased carbon emissions, and limits on capacity. For many years, European governments have had a project – the Single European Sky (SES) – which was supposed to deal with these issues. But progress on SES is stalled. The result is that air travel in Europe is slower, more expensive, the continent is less connected than it could be, and Poland is losing out in terms of jobs and economic development.

“If the government makes it a priority to modernize air traffic control, the benefits are potentially huge. In 2035 Poland stands to gain an extra €6 billion in economic activity, including 65,000 more jobs. Polish consumers will benefit from fewer delays, shorter flights, and more connections. There will be fewer emissions, and airlines will be more competitive thanks to lower costs. It is a win-win for everybody,” said Anca Apahidean, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Area Manager for Eastern Europe.

The economic benefit figures for Poland have been calculated by SEO Amsterdam Economics in a new Report Economic Benefits of European Airspace Modernization. IATA presented this report to business leaders in Rzeszow, to ask for their help in approaching the government to take action.

“The Single European Sky is a Europe-wide project, but each individual nation has its part to play, and Poland is no exception. The Government needs to produce a national airspace strategy, detailing, with key milestones, how Poland is going to reform and modernize air traffic control. At this week’s meeting with key industries that supply or benefit from air transport, in the heart of Poland’s “Aviation Valley” in Rzeszow, we have built a coalition for change. IATA, together with these vital stakeholders and regional representatives, are willing to work together with the government to take action swiftly. The benefits of SES have been delayed for too long. It is time for the government to make Poland’s airspace fit for the future,” said Apahidean.