Siim Kallas

EC Takes States to Task Over Single Sky Progress
March 25, 2013 - 11:35am

The European Commission is taking to task the vast majority of its 27 nation states for their lack of progress in forging the Single European Sky through a program to unify regional airspace.

Inefficiencies caused by Europe’s fragmented airspace generate extra costs of close to €5 billion each year, adding 42 kilometers (27 miles) to the distance of an average flight, and forcing aircraft to burn more fuel, generate more emissions, pay more in user charges and incur delays. The U.S. controls the same amount of airspace, with more traffic, at almost half the cost.
European Commission’s Single Sky, Traffic Rights Goals Still Elusive
March 4, 2013 - 2:07pm

European Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas admitted to excessively slow progress on the Single European Sky (SES) last week and characterized Russia’s continued charges for Siberian overflights as unacceptable. He has threatening European Union member states with legal action over their failure to carry out their respective SES responsibilities. Separately, he is planning a March 21 meeting in Moscow to pressure Russian authorities to address what he views as “unfair” overflight fees.
EU States Miss Deadline for Functional Airspace Blocks
December 10, 2012 - 10:20am

European Union member states failed to meet a December 4 deadline to begin operating regional air traffic management blocks as required by Single European Sky (SES) regulations dating to March 2004. Airline trade groups joined in condemning the states over the missed deadline.
EC Acts To Reverse Single European Sky Failure
October 15, 2012 - 1:00pm

The European Commission (EC) plans to propose new legislation to accelerate implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) program and is threatening legal action against national governments that have failed to fulfill their obligations to the far-reaching air traffic management (ATM) reorganization. In an October 11 speech in Cyprus, EC transport commissioner Siim Kallas acknowledged that SES “is not delivering” on its goals of halving ATM costs while tripling airspace capacity.
Europe’s Regions Threatened by Loss of Hub Connections
April 23, 2012 - 10:00am
Henrik Hololei

Delegates attending the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) spring conference in Porto, Portugal, last week heard about the risks associated with policies that focus on core areas with little or no regard to protecting the provision of air services to the regions where 85 percent of Europe’s population resides.
Asia Tells Europe to Back Down on ETS or Face Consequences
February 14, 2012 - 6:15am
China Airlines Airbus A330-300

Asian air transport industry leaders yesterday signaled European Commission vice president Siim Kallas that they will step up their war against the European Union’s emissions trading scheme (ETS). But Kallas held firm, telling the Singapore Airshow’s Aviation Leadership Summit that while the EU is willing to negotiate over how ETS applies to airlines outside Europe, it will do so only on its own terms and is in no hurry to give ground.
FAA Should Describe NextGen Interoperability, GAO Says
December 8, 2011 - 1:44pm
FAA and EU representatives sign agreement in March in Budapest.

Citing “continuing skepticism” among aviation industry stakeholders in both the U.S. and Europe, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that the FAA provide more information on its efforts to align with Europe on ATC modernization.
European Regional Traffic Grows but Airlines Confront Alleged Discrimination
October 3, 2011 - 5:05pm
Despite passenger traffic growth this year, ERA officials, including president M

Europe’s regional airlines achieved 7.1 percent passenger growth during the first six months of 2011, according to figures published by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) at its annual general assembly held in Rome last week.
Europe Sets Air Transport Goals for 2050
May 2, 2011 - 5:50am
European transport commissioner Siim Kallas recently presented a report that ...

European transport commissioner Siim Kallas recently presented Flightpath 2050, a report prepared by a group of high-ranking air transport executives in the European Union that sets research priorities and ambitious industry goals for 2050.
ICAO Resolution Tackles Aviation Emissions
October 14, 2010 - 12:24pm

At the close of its 37th Assembly last Friday, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed to what it characterized as the first global approach to reducing air transport's impact on climate change.

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