FEATURE : AVIATION

Ground-breaking Iris satellitebased datalink technology enters commercial service , enabling airspace optimisation to ease congestion and reduce delays and emissions for airlines .

The EASA-certified Iris service provider ESSP has involved 15 leading Air Navigation Service Providers ( ANSPs ) in support of the first commercial flights taking place across Europe this year – with up to 11 easyJet Airbus A320neo aircraft taking part . This initiative is a European first in putting the Single European Skies initiative into action .

Through the use of Iris , easyJet will be able to operate its aircraft as efficiently as possible to achieve further fuel burn improvements and emissions reductions . More broadly , the programme will be a key component in helping deliver airspace modernisation across the industry .

Airspace modernisation and subsequent gains in efficiencies is one crucial element in the airline industry ’ s path to Net-Zero . In 2022 , easyJet announced its interim science-based carbon reduction target – 35 % carbon emissions intensity improvement by FY2035 , on a FY2020 baseline . This came as part of the airline ’ s commitment to achieve Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050 .

More efficient use of airspace is crucial for aviation to reduce emissions , as it is the most achievable source of carbon reductions right now . This is because more direct flight paths lead to shorter flying times , and thus use less fuel burn and generate fewer emissions . Achieving this will be critical to reaching the Single European Sky ’ s ATM Research ( SESAR ) ambition to deliver 10 % carbon emissions savings from European aviation .

Iris represents an important technology evolution , delivering faster and more reliable satellite communications between the aircraft and the ground . This will help air traffic controllers and pilots to achieve further operational efficiencies , by calculating the shortest available routes , cruising at optimum altitudes , and using continuous climb and descent paths .

ESA has led and funded Iris with the aim of supporting the European Policy on Single European Skies through a solution that has full European coverage and is based on state-of-the-art , highly secure , satellite communication mobile technologies . This has been carried out by ESA in full co-ordination with European aviation stakeholders , including the International Civil Aviation Organisation ( ICAO ), to ensure Iris is fully compliant with European and worldwide aviation needs and requirements . In order to achieve this goal ESA has set up a European industrial consortium of more than 20 companies , with Viasat ( which recently acquired Inmarsat ) as prime contractor .

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