Raising the Aviation Bar

In this episode of our #RTAB (Raising the Aviation Bar) podcast, EASA Executive Director Florian Guillermet shares his views on some of the key challenges currently shaping European aviation, from geopolitical instability and a rapidly changing industry, to supporting aviation sustainability, and how to best manage the uptake of artificial intelligence (AI).

Florian explains how EASA works tirelessly to ensure that Europe maintains the very highest safety standards, while simultaneously adapting to new technologies and an increasingly complex operating environment. Against the background of growing geopolitical tensions affecting Europe, he describes EASA’s role in assessing conflict zone risks and providing guidance to airlines through Conflict-Zone Information Bulletins.

The discussion also explores the very close partnership between EASA and EUROCONTROL, including the joint efforts of both organisations to strengthen the resilience of the European aviation network. One excellent recent example of this partnership in action is the European Aviation Action Plan, produced in cooperation with other aviation organisations with the aim of supporting the sector in mitigating the impact of satellite navigation signal interference.

Florian outlines EASA’s role in supporting aviation’s environmental goals, from aircraft certification and environmental reporting, to monitoring the uptake of sustainable aviation fuels. He also discusses the opportunities and challenges presented by AI, and reflects on the skills, mindset and adaptability that will help the next generation succeed in the aviation sector.

In this episode, we speak to Agnieszka Dybowska, who leads business coordination in EUROCONTROL’s Airports Unit, to learn about how the EUROCONTROL Network Manager (NM) supports more than 500 airports across Europe as well as the various aircraft operators flying to, from and over the network, and the air navigation service providers (ANSPs) who ensure safe air navigation services throughout. Agnieszka explains why airports are central to the European air traffic network’s performance, and how local operational decisions can have far-reaching effects across the entire network. From departure delays and early arrivals to severe weather disruptions, capacity constraints and resilience challenges, she highlights the interconnected nature of aviation and the importance of NM’s #thinkNetwork approach, which reminds all partners in aviation that local decisions can have a significant impact on the network as a whole. The podcast also explores the work of the Airports Operations Team, a unique forum that brings together over 100 aviation representatives to identify priorities and solutions. Agnieszka additionally shares insights into today’s biggest airport challenges, and explains how EUROCONTROL helps airports improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability across the network.

The third special episode of the Raising the Aviation Bar podcast recorded at Airspace World in Lisbon featured conversations with Anna von Groote, Director General of EUROCAE, Christophe Vivier,  Head of the Single European Sky Unit at EDA, Adrian Cojoc, the Director General of ROMATSA and EUROCONTROL’s Peter Choroba, Head of the Innovation Program and Oscar Alfaro Olive, Head of Data and Digital Products.

Covered in this episode: key aspects influencing industry standards for aviation in Europe, civil-military cooperation, ROMATSA’s implementation of the FF-ICE mandate, the FLY AI initiative and coordinated action to identify where and how artificial intelligence can deliver the greatest value to our sector as well as insights into EUROCONTROL’s air traffic data.

All interviews were recorded at the podcast booth EUROCONTROL set up in cooperation with the 8 Europe For Aviation partners at Airspace World 2026 reflecting the value of bringing partners together at one of the leading global air traffic management events.

In this special episode for the Raising the Aviation Bar podcast recorded at Airspace World in Lisbon, Elisabeth Landrichter, Executive Manager of Austro Control, Áron Eichinger, Director Area Control at HungaroControl, Francesco Gaetani, Flight Standards Director at EASA, and Simon Hocquard, Director General at CANSO give their take on some of the most relevant air traffic management developments and updates from Airspace World.

All interviews were recorded at the podcast booth EUROCONTROL set up in cooperation with the eight other Europe For Aviation partners at Airspace World 2026 reflecting the value of bringing partners together at one of the leading global air traffic management events.

In this special episode for the Raising the Aviation Bar podcast recorded at Airspace World in Lisbon, Filip Cornelis (Director for Aviation at the European Commission), Andreas Boschen (Executive Director, SESAR Joint Undertaking), Mariagrazia La Piscopia (Executive Director, SESAR Deployment Manager), Helena Sjöström Falk (CEO and President, IFATCA) and Predrag Vranjkovic (EUROCONTROL Head of Strategy, Engagement and Institutional Relations) share their perspectives on key priorities for aviation in 2026 and top discussions at Airspace World.

The conversations cover the challenges facing the sector in a complex geopolitical environment, Europe’s innovation priorities, the need to accelerate deployment, the growing role of artificial intelligence in air traffic management and the need to increase resilience. All interviews were recorded at the podcast booth EUROCONTROL set up in cooperation with the 8 Europe For Aviation partners at Airspace World 2026 reflecting the value of bringing partners together at one of the leading global air traffic management events.

As Europe heads into another busy summer season, the EUROCONTROL Network Manager continues to work closely with aircraft operators, air navigation service providers and airports to prepare for peak traffic levels and manage growing pressure on the network.

In this episode, podcast host Anita Zech is joined by Steven Moore, Head of Air Traffic Management Operations at EUROCONTROL, who oversees network operations, transformation and resilience across Europe, and Yolanda Portillo, Head of the Network Manager Operations Centre, responsible for the 24/7 delivery of central air traffic flow management services and operational performance at network level.

Together, they explain why summer operations are increasingly challenging—from traffic growth and airspace constraints to geopolitical disruptions and weather—and how the EUROCONTROL Network Manager plans months and years ahead to balance capacity and demand safely. The discussion explores how capacity and weather‑based procedures are improving network stability, reducing delays and helping the system shift from reactive to more proactive operations.

Steven and Yolanda also share practical advice for airlines, airports and ANSPs as part of the #thinkNetwork campaign, highlighting why individual operational decisions matter for the network as a whole—and why safety remains the overriding priority, even under peak pressure.

In this episode, we sit down with Ourania (Rania) Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines for Europe (A4E) to discuss key priorities of the airline industry in Europe including competitiveness and connectivity. Representing 16 airline groups that together operate over 80% of Europe’s air traffic, Rania advocates for their interests in Brussels. In our new podcast episode, she gives her take on the ongoing revision of the EU’s passenger rights legislation, highlighting the operational realities faced by airlines, and the need for a more balanced, clearly defined framework that benefits both passengers and operators.

The conversation also examines sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) under the ReFuelEU mandate. Rania shares her views on why mandates alone cannot build a functioning SAF market, explains the economic pressures on airlines, and suggests essential policy incentives that could accelerate investment and production across Europe. 

For A4E, Europe urgently needs a new aviation strategy that better reflects today’s geopolitical and competitive realities – a new strategy that is pro-growth and pro innovation, supporting the entire aviation ecosystem so Europe can stay globally competitive, maintain connectivity, and keep flying accessible for everyone.

And on a more personal note, she shares her personal journey from Athens to Brussels, shaped by a childhood steeped in aviation and a career dedicated to European public policy.

Tune in for a candid, strategic look at how Europe’s airlines are navigating regulatory change, decarbonisation pressures, and the path to a more resilient, competitive aviation ecosystem.

In this podcast episode Major General Karsten Stoye, Head of EUROCONTROL’s Civil-Military Cooperation Division (CMC), explains how EUROCONTROL supports the military in delivering effective missions while balancing civil aviation’s need for safety and predictability. 

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, military activity and vigilance in Europe have increased two to threefold, including a significant rise in training and exercises. At the same time, available airspace for European aircraft operators has decreased due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace, with many long‑haul commercial flights now forced to reroute along Europe’s increasingly busy southeast corridor. In this podcast, Karsten explains these and other challenges, and why there is an increased need for civil-military cooperation in today’s complex geopolitical world. A combat pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, Karsten has served on more than 70 operational missions, and shares some fascinating personal insights into his life and leadership journey.

Cyprus has taken over the EU Council Presidency at the beginning of 2026.  In this episode of the #RTAB podcast, we speak with Dr. Marina Ioannou Hasapi from Cyprus’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works about the country’s key priorities for the next six months. Ensuring connectivity and competitiveness are the guiding elements for the island nation that experiences high air traffic growth and sees 95% of visitors use air transport. Dr Hasapi shares insights into Cyprus’s plans for international cooperation and why the new direct Larnaca–Brussels route directly supports the work of the presidency. Dr. Hasapi, a trailblazer for women in the public sector in Cyprus, also shares insight into her career mediating in labour disputes and her advice to a young generation seeking leadership roles in aviation.

In this episode of “Raising the Aviation Bar”, we sit down with Enrico Parini, the new Director of European Affairs at CANSO Europe, the voice of the European air traffic management industry. In this role Enrico isn’t just tackling technical challenges – he’s passionate about shaping the future of aviation. Representing 36 air navigation service providers (ANSPs), Enrico’s mission is to make sure their voices are heard at the European level, and to spotlight the vital role they play in keeping aviation – and business – running smoothly across the continent. From managing changing air traffic trends and facing growing capacity challenges to addressing cybersecurity risks and GNSS spoofing, Enrico shares CANSO’s perspective on safeguarding the skies while keeping innovation moving forward.

In this podcast episode, he highlights the vital role of highly skilled ANSP professionals in enabling global connectivity and maintaining Europe’s leadership in air traffic management – paying special tribute to efforts this summer to manage peak traffic, with many area control centres going well beyond their planned commitments to handling network traffic.