Airport operators play a central role in the connectivity provided by airspace users to passengers and freight customers within the EU. Airports are also increasingly recognized as engines of economic growth. In this respect, the Airport Operators are considered by the European Commission as a crucial group of operational stakeholders in the deployment of SESAR. Airport operators have always submitted ATM modernization projects individually or together with other local stakeholders like the local ANSP (Air Navigation Service Provider) or an airline.

Since the 2016 CEF Transport Calls for Proposals, airport operators are increasingly choosing to join forces and submit joint applications.

Within the 2017 CEF Transport Calls for Proposal, Brussels Airport Company has, as lead partner, submitted the joint application 2017_022_AF2 “Synchronised stakeholder decision on process optimization at airport level” together with 2 Air Navigation Service Providers and 11 Airport Operators and under the oversight of the SESAR Deployment Manager and its communication name is Integrating Airport Operations. All partners can be found here.

The start date was 12/04/2018 and the end date is 31/12/2023.