The joint resolution comes after the International Air Transport Association (IATA) put forward its own plan for improving European ATC last October.
Beleaguered Eurocontrol is being blamed for most of the delays, which in 1999 were the worst experienced in Europe, with more than one in three flights delayed more than 15min.
According to the AEA, five countries are responsible for almost three-quarters of all ATC delays, with France and Switzerland heading the list, followed by Spain, Germany and Italy.
The joint resolution calls for an immediate "root and branch reform of European ATC". It points to the fragmented nature of Europe's ATC, which is based on independent national systems, as a primary cause of the problems, and calls for a radical reform programme.
The AEA and ACI Europe urge governments to set up a chain of command aimed at improving capacity for the trans-European air transport network, and to put in place enforcement mechanisms.
Other demands include the separation of ATC service providers and regulators, and a Europe-wide overhaul of systems design "based on the needs of the market and ignoring artificial frontiers between airspaces".
IATA director general Pierre Jeanniot calls for similar action, but says capacity could be increased by up to 30% by redesigning Europe's upper airspace. He says this does not require many additional controllers or expansive new systems, or a new legal framework.
Jeanniot is calling on Europe's transport ministers to support such measures when they meet in January. But he adds: "Clearly, much more will be needed in the longer term to achieve one airspace."
Source: Airline Business
