Seamless Cross-border ATS

Aviation is an inherently international activity with organised traffic flows between major centres and between regions, and smaller flows providing broad connectivity. All of this supports the global economy and the movement of people and cargo. When things work well, it can all appear so seamless.

But while movements in the air are organised in predictable cross-border flows, the organisation and provision of air traffic management within the airspace itself remains largely a patchwork of different jurisdictions and service providers that mirror national boundaries.

This paper examines numerous instances in which cross-border air traffic services are operating (or are planned to be soon). These examples provide important lessons for how to navigate the complex arrangements needed.