The SESAR Joint Undertaking has welcomed four new members – Avinor, NAV CANADA, Tern Systems and Unifly – expanding the partnership to 59 organisations and giving further impetus to the delivery of the next generation of air traffic management, a key enabler of Europe’s ambitions for more competitive, resilient and sustainable aviation.
The new members have been long-standing partners of SESAR JU, actively contributing to its activities and building a strong foundation of collaboration over many years. Their decision to now step up to membership reflects continued confidence in SESAR JU’s partnership model, which unites industry leaders, operational actors, academia and innovators to deliver the Digital European Sky. It also signals the added value of being part of what is widely recognised as the leading platform for strategic collaboration in ATM modernisation. The decision to join is a further endorsement of the European ATM Master Plan as a shared vision driving the transformation of the sector in Europe and globally.
The addition of organisations from Canada, Iceland and Norway, alongside further participation from Belgium, is broadening the partnership’s geographic reach, reinforcing its international dimension and the importance of interoperability in enabling smart, sustainable and seamless operations across systems and borders.
Collectively, the new members bring fresh perspectives and valuable experience from across air navigation service provision, airport operations, unmanned traffic management and advanced aviation technologies. This breadth of know-how will further enhance SESAR JU’s capacity to deliver high-calibre, operationally relevant solutions for market uptake both in Europe and globally.
Welcoming the new members, SESAR JU Executive Director Andreas Boschen said: “Collaboration is essential in air traffic management, where no single organisation can deliver the transformative change required. The Digital European Sky does not stop at EU’s borders; it relies on strong international cooperation and interoperability to enable seamless operations worldwide. The continued growth of the SESAR Joint Undertaking reflects the strength of our partnership. These new members bring valuable capabilities and a strong commitment that will support our work towards a more digital, sustainable and connected European sky.”
“The conviction that we achieve better results by working, learning, and standing together is deeply rooted in Norwegian society. By joining SESAR JU, we want to carry this value into the European aviation community and actively play our part in creating the Single European Sky, drawing on our experience, while also remaining open to learning from others,” said Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor AS.
“Canada and Europe have shared a sky for as long as aircraft have crossed the Atlantic. Two years ago, we joined the iTEC Collaboration and now we are honoured to share the table where its future is designed. Our membership in SESAR will help shape a safer, more efficient and sustainable sky for travellers around the world,” said Mark Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer, NAV CANADA
“SESAR has created one of Europe’s most important innovation ecosystems, bringing together ANSPs, industry, researchers, and regulators to solve common challenges and accelerate the modernization of Air Traffic Management. We are proud to join this collaborative effort and contribute to building a more open, interoperable, and innovative ATM ecosystem for Europe,” said Magnús Már Þórðarson, CEO, Tern Systems
