The Airspace World event took place just a few weeks ago. What is your view on the results of this edition?

Airspace World 2025 was our biggest and most successful edition to date. We welcomed over 7,000 attendees, hosted more than 250 exhibitors, and curated a rich programme across five packed theatres that brought together every corner of the aviation ecosystem.

The energy and engagement throughout the week were palpable. Whether it was through high-level panel discussions, spontaneous networking, or our expanded show floor, it was clear that the industry came together with purpose. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive — not only in terms of content and participation but also regarding our new Lisbon location, which was widely praised for its atmosphere and hospitality.

This year also marked several important milestones, including the formal launch of the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Concept of Operations, a significantly expanded Tomorrow’s Voices youth programme, and the announcement of two new regional Airspace World events: in Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, China, December 2025) and Abu Dhabi (October 2026).

The show confirmed that Airspace World has become the global meeting place for Air Traffic Management – both in terms of size and influence.

What are the key initiatives CANSO is putting in place in support to ANSPs and aviation?

CANSO is actively delivering value to its members and the wider aviation ecosystem through a series of strategic and future-focused initiatives:

• The CATS Global Council and Concept of Operations (CONOPS): Developed with over 80 global aviation stakeholders, the CONOPS is the first international, multi-stakeholder blueprint for future skies. It lays out a roadmap to safely integrate drones, eVTOLs, commercial aircraft, and space vehicles, that will deliver a seamless, scalable, and sustainable air traffic system by 2045. - https://futureskyvision.com/
• Relocation of CANSO Headquarters to Montreal: Following Member approval at our Annual General Meeting held at Airspace World CANSO is in the process of relocating its global headquarters from the Netherlands to Montreal, Canada, putting us at the heart of global aviation alongside ICAO, IATA, and ACI. This will significantly enhance our voice and influence on global aviation policy.
• New office in the Middle East: We have partnered with the Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS) to open a new regional office in Riyadh and welcomed our new Regional Director Saad Alkahtani. This is a major milestone for us and will enhance our presence in the Middle East – a region that is rapidly transforming and playing an increasingly central role in the future of air traffic management.
• Attracting the next generation of ATM professionals: We’ve doubled down on workforce development through Tomorrow’s Voices, and a series of initiatives supporting recruitment, retention, and training for air traffic controllers. This includes storytelling campaigns including a film we developed to showcase the great work air traffic controllers do and DEI initiatives with EUROCONTROL and other members.
• New Regional Airspace World Events: New events in Airspace Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, China coming on 9-11 December 2025 and Airspace Abu Dhabi in October 2026, will help us expand our global reach and foster regional collaboration.
• Technology and Innovation Focus: We are championing deployment of automation, AI, digital data exchange, remote towers, and trajectory-based operations — helping ANSPs modernise and scale for the future.

What are the key challenges the ANSPs will have to face in the coming future, let’s say in 5 years? Both at Global and European level

Over the next five years, ANSPs will be navigating a number of critical and complex challenges:

• Traffic Growth & Complexity: Air travel is growing rapidly, with projections showing that passenger traffic will more than double by 2043. Air cargo is also rising due to globalised supply chains. Meanwhile, new airspace users—drones, eVTOLs, space vehicles—are adding unprecedented complexity to airspace management.
• Legacy Systems & Capacity Pressure: Many ATM systems still rely on legacy infrastructure not designed for today’s volume or variety of users. If we don’t modernise, existing systems will be unable to cope with future demands. CANSO is advocating strongly on behalf of our Members to ensure the necessary investment in this critical sector.
• Climate Disruption: Increasingly severe weather patterns, such as thunderstorms, are already the leading cause of en-route delays in Europe and in other parts of the globe.
• Workforce Challenges: There is a critical shortage of air traffic controllers, and attracting, training, and retaining new talent is an urgent priority. At the same time, there’s a growing need for diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster a resilient, sustainable workforce.

European Challenges:

• Airspace Fragmentation & Geopolitical Constraints: Europe is dealing with airspace fragmentation, capacity bottlenecks, and a 20% reduction in available airspace due to the war in Ukraine. This limits flexibility and increases delay risks.
• Digital Transformation and Interoperability: European ANSPs must accelerate the shift to digital, interoperable systems, balancing national sovereignty with cross-border cooperation.
• Regulatory Alignment: Modernising the European ATM system also requires navigating complex regulatory frameworks, and aligning stakeholders with differing operational models.

In light of these challenges, CANSO is leading the global response through innovation, partnership, and projects like the CATS CONOPS and providing platforms to collaborate on solutions through our workgroups, and our regional and global events such as Airspace World.