Reframing air navigation services: a modern service delivery model

Abstract

The increasing digitalisation and growing complexity of air traffic management require a reassessment of traditional approaches to air navigation service provision. Emerging service delivery models move away from nationally isolated structures towards data-centric, network-enabled solutions. This paper examines these new models through the lens of airspace architecture principles and analyses the evolving roles Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), in particular their transformation into Air Traffic Service Providers (ATSPs) and ATM Data Service Providers (ADSPs). The proposed models promote a functional separation between operational Air Traffic Services (ATS) and ATM Data Services. This separation improves interoperability, scalability, and regulatory transparency, while maintaining safety and enhancing flight efficiency, cost effectiveness, and environmental performance. The transformation also supports the implementation of SESAR and Common Project objectives, especially those related to trajectory-based operations, system-wide information management, and cross-border service integration. Finally, the separation of ATSP and ADSP roles has the potential to improve overall network performance, and enable market-based provision of data services, provided that strong governance arrangements, data quality assurance mechanisms, and effective regulatory oversight are in place.