New SkyBridge Alliance selects Thales to accelerate Europe’s Air Traffic Management modernisation

In a landmark move for European aviation, ANS CR (Czech Republic), EANS (Estonia) and FTANS (Finland) have come together to launch the SkyBridge Alliance. This alliance reflects a shared ambition to harmonise systems and operations in line with the Single European Sky and the EU ATM Master Plan, advancing Europe’s vision of a safer, greener, and more connected sky.

"The creation of the SkyBridge Alliance marks an important milestone in cross-border ATM cooperation. By uniting technological and operational strategies, we are building a stronger foundation for a more sustainable, interoperable and efficient European airspace. This strategic investment not only supports our day-to-day operational reliability but will also ensure the long-term sustainability of air traffic management services.” said Jan Klas, CEO Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR), Ivar Värk, CEO Estonian Air Navigation Services AS (EANS), and Raine Luojus, CEO Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd (FTANS) for the SkyBridge Alliance.

Youzec Kurp, Vice President Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales commented: “We are honored to support the SkyBridge Alliance in this bold initiative. With TopSky – ATC, we bring a proven, future-ready solution that empowers ANSPs to deliver safer and more efficient air traffic services, perfectly aligned with the goals of the Single European Sky.”

To power Europe’s ATM modernisation, the SkyBridge Alliance has selected an upgrade of Thales’s cybersecured, AI-powered TopSky - ATC, the world’s most advanced air traffic control solution. This choice marks a significant milestone, bringing the three ANSPs into the TopSky – ATC Partners group, which unites 12 European Air Navigation Service Providers. As members of this collaborative community, the SkyBridge partners will take part in the upgraded version of TopSky – ATC product roadmap governance, ensuring alignment of system evolution with operational priorities and European regulatory developments. This approach will enable faster deployment, lower total lifecycle costs, and seamless cross-border interoperability.

The deployment of Thales’s TopSky – ATC will provide cutting-edge controller tools and a latest-generation, open, safe, and secure software architecture, allowing the alliance to introduce advanced functionalities, while ensuring continuity of operations and data integrity. This system is fully compliant with CP1 regulation1 and EASA’s DPO (Design or Production Organisation) framework, providing future-proof readiness for the evolving ATM environment. 

The three ANSPs have also committed to a long-term evolutive and corrective maintenance agreement with Thales, ensuring continuous innovation, scalability, and resilience in readiness for the inevitable evolution of ATM. Additionally, FTANS and EANS will continue benefiting from the MonoFIR/Bi-FIR (Flight Information Region) functionality delivered to Finland and Estonia, a proven step toward seamless cross-border air traffic control.