FABEC – Working together in crowded skies
The Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC) aims to harmonise airspace in the heart of Europe. This cooperation initiative between Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland is part of the European Union's Single European Sky (SES).
Based on the collective requirements of the Single European Sky (SES), nine functional airspace blocks (FABs) have been created over Europe to control air traffic along traffic flows instead of the usual national borders. FABEC covers the airspace of the following countries in the heart of Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. FABEC includes the largest air traffic hubs in Europe (Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Munich) and is one of the areas with the highest traffic volumes in the world. The FABEC founding treaty was signed by the six participating countries on 2 December 2010, and entered into force on 1 June 2013. It regulates cooperation between the six countries and their civil and military air navigation service providers.
All FABEC partners contribute to the following Single European Sky objectives:
- Continuously ensure a high standard of safety;
- Reduce environmental emissions by introducing more direct and efficient flight routes;
- Provide more traffic capacity and ensure punctuality for passengers;
- Improve the effectiveness of military air transport.
In accordance with Single European Sky regulations, the FABEC states have agreed to draw up a joint FABEC performance plan, most recently for the third reference period (2020–2024). This plan, which sets common performance targets in the areas of flight safety (safety), capacity (delay) and environment, and was submitted in a revised version to the EU Commission for assessment in July 2022.
Last modification 23.10.2023
