SESAR at Aerodays 2025: Showcasing Europe’s vision for the Digital European Sky
The SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) was proud to play a central role at Aerodays 2025, where Europe’s leading aviation thinkers and innovators discussed the path towards a more sustainable, digital and resilient future for aviation.
One message resonated throughout the event: if Europe is to lead the world in smart and sustainable aviation, investment in innovation, research and collaboration is essential.
SESAR JU was at the heart of that conversation, with impactful contributions from Executive Director Andreas Boschen and Chief Programme Benoit Fonck. Together, they demonstrated SESAR’s unique role—not only as the engine behind Europe’s air traffic management (ATM) modernisation — but as a strategic enabler of Europe’s digital and sustainable aviation ambitions.
Investing in the future: funding for aviation research
In Plenary Session 2, Andreas joined Axel Krein, Executive Director of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, for a compelling discussion on the future of funding for aviation research. The session outlined the forward-looking research agenda under the ARIS framework. Together, they made the case for sustained investment in aviation research to secure Europe’s leadership in global aviation and ensure alignment with the EU’s climate and digital goals.
Andreas explained why SESAR remains the cornerstone of European air traffic modernisation. With 137 validated solutions already delivered and ready for implementation, SESAR has shown that collaborative research and development can translate directly into operational improvements — improving performance, reducing emissions, and enhancing safety across the entire ATM value chain.
His call to action was timely: as Europe sets more ambitious goals for climate neutrality and digital transformation, we must continue to invest in the tools and partnerships that deliver results. “We’ve shown it works,” Andreas said, “now we need to scale it.”
Green innovation in action: tackling emissions and contrails
Taking a deeper dive in the discussions, Benoit Fonck, Chief Programme, joined colleagues from Clean Aviation and Clean Hydrogen to showcase how joint undertakings are delivering greener solutions—from smarter flight operations to low-emission technology integration.
As part of the session on “Innovative technologies for green aviation”, Benoit delivered a focused presentation on SESAR’s role in achieving sustainable ATM operations. He showcased concrete outcomes from EU-funded projects that are already helping to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation — through smarter flight planning, advanced trajectory optimisation and innovative airspace management solutions.
Benoît highlighted how SESAR is enabling flights that are not only safer and more efficient, but also greener — optimising both CO₂ and non-CO₂ impacts. He stressed the importance of system-wide coordination to decarbonise aviation, noting that the ATM system has enormous untapped potential to support sustainability targets, especially when powered by data-driven, AI-enabled technologies.
His presentation made it clear: SESAR’s innovations are not just about managing air traffic—they are fundamental to managing aviation’s environmental performance.
Digital by design: The road to autonomy
In Plenary Session 4, Andreas Boschen delivered a keynote highlighting how SESAR is turning the vision of a Digital European Sky into reality. He outlined how digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and automation are already reshaping ATM —enhancing efficiency, safety, and environmental performance across the network. From high-connectivity infrastructure and AI-powered decision support tools to virtual centres and remote towers, his speech showcased SESAR’s commitment to building a smarter, more agile airspace—where innovation serves both operational excellence and sustainability.
He presented SESAR’s bold vision for the Digital European Sky—a highly connected, automated airspace where digital tools, AI, and virtualised systems work together to optimise every flight. From AI-enabled decision support systems for controllers and pilots, to virtual centres that decouple services from physical infrastructure, SESAR is laying the groundwork for a smarter, more flexible airspace.
He also highlighted technologies already being deployed, such as digital remote towers, which are improving safety and connectivity for regional airports across Europe. These aren’t theoretical concepts—they’re real solutions being tested, deployed, and scaled with support from SESAR.
Let’s do it together
Andreas closed with a powerful reminder: the future of aviation isn’t something one actor can build alone. “Let’s do it together,” he urged—calling on industry, regulators, and research communities to work hand-in-hand to deliver on Europe’s ambition to become the most efficient and environmentally friendly sky to fly in the world.
But that's not all...
SESAR JU participated also in other sessions:
The European ATM Master Plan: Europe’s Roadmap Towards the Transformation of European Airspace
This session will provide a deep dive into the ATM Master Plan, Europe’s roadmap for modernising air traffic management. SESAR JU and partners will highlight progress, future goals, and alignment with EU policy priorities.
Competitiveness by synergies: beyond the buzzwords. Connecting aviation research in Europe
Agnieszka Byrt, Master Planning Expert, SESAR JU will join a panel exploring synergies with European and international partners, showing how cross-sector collaboration accelerates innovation and impact.
Operation blue sky: cutting contrails for climate neutrality. The road to getting greener without losing competitiveness
Stella Saldana, Programme Manager, SESAR JU will contribute to this session on contrails, a growing focus of climate research. The discussion will cover the latest findings and strategies to mitigate aviation’s non-CO₂ climate impacts.
Showcase of EU Collaboration in Aviation: Results of SESAR JU
Projects including JARVIS, ECHOES, HERON and ENSURE will be in the spotlight, showcasing SESAR JU’s cutting-edge R&D results and their contribution to future-ready European skies (read more).