SES adoption commended

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) congratulated the European Commission on adopting the second package of legislation for a Single European Sky (SES).

IATA's Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani said, "Every drop of fuel saved counts, with oil at US$135 and jet fuel even higher, saving fuel is critical for financial survival.

And it is at the core of our commitment to improving environmental performance.

Today's adoption of the Single European Sky II package is a welcome response to IATA's call for governments to act quickly to eliminate inefficiencies in air traffic management."

At its recent Annual General Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, the 230 members of IATA agreed to an Istanbul Declaration that asks governments, labour and service providers to show leadership and responsibility in this time of crisis.

The Declaration specifically called for governments to "invest to modernise air transport infrastructure urgently, eliminating wasteful fuel consumption and emissions."

"Vice President Tajani has quickly understood the urgency of the situation. The Commission adoption is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot of ground to cover before a Single European Sky can become a reality," said Bisignani.