Airbus has signed an agreement to acquire US air traffic management (ATM) services provider Metron Aviation.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Airbus expects the transaction to close later in 2011, subject to regulatory approval.
Earlier this year, Airbus launched Airbus ProSky, a subsidiary dedicated to supporting the US FAA's NextGen and the European Union's Single European Sky ATM initiatives.
Metron Aviation is a prime contractor on System Engineering 2020, the FAA's strategic programme for implementing NextGen. It is also involved in research and development work for SESAR.
"Like Airbus ProSky, Metron Aviation is not an ATM equipment manufacturer, so the acquisition is a perfect fit for our approach of seeking to partner with the FAA and the world's air navigation service providers," said Airbus ProSky chief executive Eric Stefanello.
Dave Ellison will remain chief executive of Metron Aviation and the company will operate as a US subsidiary of Airbus Americas. It will be chaired by Airbus Americas chairman Allan McArtor.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
