24th DANUBE FAB Governing Bodies Meetings

DANUBE FAB holds high-level meetings to strengthen cross-border cooperation

 Published: Friday, 11 April 2025

On April 10 and 11, 2025, DANUBE Functional Airspace Block conducted two consecutive high-level meetings in Sofia, Bulgaria, emphasizing the commitment of both the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to enhance bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Single European Sky (SES).

The 24th ANSP Board meeting, held on April 10, brought together the air navigation service providers BULATSA and ROMATSA to discuss the technical and operational aspects of their cooperation within the FAB. The discussions focused on several key topics, including the implementation of Free Route Airspace, data exchange systems (such as OLDI, radar, and GNSS), and collaborative SESAR 3 projects related to both Air Traffic Control-Traffic Based Operations (ATC-TBO) and Network TBO streams.

Additionally, the Board approved the Strategic Programme for 2025–2029, the Annual Plan for 2025, and the Annual Report for 2024. They also reviewed the Joint Position regarding the implementation of the new SES2+ Regulation (EU) 2024/2803.

The following day, the 24th Governing Council convened, featuring representatives from the ministries of transport and defense, civil aviation authorities (CAAs), and the two Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). This meeting focused on the strategic governance of the DANUBE Functional Airspace Block (FAB). High-level discussions included adopting FAB strategic documents, aligning with SESAR and SES priorities, overseeing high-priority projects, and preparing for Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon. The ANSPs and CAAs presented reports on their progress, and decisions were made regarding the future direction under the evolving voluntary FAB framework introduced by SES2+.

Both meetings offered a thorough platform to ensure technical continuity and strategic direction for DANUBE FAB operations, reinforcing the strong cross-border partnership between Bulgaria and Romania. DANUBE FAB continues to play a vital role in advancing airspace integration, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting sustainable performance in line with European aviation objectives.

For more information, visit www.danubefab.eu or contact us at contact@danubefab.eu.

Note for editors:

DANUBE FAB is a functional airspace block that has been established between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. It comprises of two air navigation service providers: the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA) and the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA). DANUBE FAB plays an important role in the Single European Sky (SES) legislative framework, which aims to enhance the capacity of air traffic services across Europe. The SES framework prescribes a range of measures to ensure that there is enough capacity to service flights over Europe.