ENAV has unveiled the first edition of the Italian National Airspace Strategy in collaboration with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

This development comes after an announcement earlier this year when ENAV and IATA agreed to develop and implement a national airspace strategy for Italy.

Italian airline Alitalia and the national airports association Assaeroporti also contributed towards the development of the strategy.

The strategy features a number of initiatives on airspace modernisation, with the aim to ensure continuous evolution of the Italian aviation system and contribute to the national economy. It also seeks to boost the efficiency of the air transport system across Europe and worldwide.

“The adoption of modernisation measures is certainly a fundamental step to promote the competitiveness of the whole sector.”

Assaeroporti director general Valentina Lener said: “The Italian Airports Association has positively welcomed the initiative launched by IATA and ENAV, being aware of the importance of implementing a strategy for Italian airspace modernisation as an enabler to face the important challenges that the sector will have to deal with in the coming years, including the capacity saturation of airspace and airport infrastructure.

“Airports will be an essential part of this strategy, taking into account their role in managing national and international passengers and freight traffic flows. The adoption of modernisation measures is certainly a fundamental step to promote the competitiveness of the whole sector.”

It is estimated that air travel will surge 50% across Europe over the next 20 years. The objective of the air traffic management (ATM) network in Italy is to meet this demand.

ENAV has forged collaboration with airlines to continue the ongoing modernisation of the network, which is likely to create significant benefits for Italy, including an extra €27bn in annual GDP and 95,000 new jobs by 2035.