Thales, Aireon partner to launch regional platform, improve APAC airspace flow management

Preparing airspace management systems for rapid growth
The Asia-Pacific region is projected to experience traffic growth of up to 72% by 2030, placing additional pressure on already complex and fragmented airspace structures. To support this transition, Thales and Aireon have launched a regional initiative that enables Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airlines, and airports to explore new traffic-flow management concepts using shared digital tools.

The objective is to help operational stakeholders prepare for increased congestion and improve cross-border coordination in a region that covers 49 Flight Information Regions (FIRs), many of which currently operate with limited inter-ANSP collaboration frameworks.

Cloud-based flow management supported by space-based ADS-B
Central to the initiative is TopSky-Flow, Thales’ cloud-based traffic-flow management platform. As part of the program, ANSPs will receive free access to test the platform and run “what-if” operational scenarios.

TopSky-Flow integrates AireonFLOW, a space-based ADS-B surveillance data service, giving users access to real-time traffic information across extensive oceanic and continental airspace. This combined dataset allows ANSPs to explore ways of improving planning accuracy, sector load balancing, and regional traffic coordination.

The trial environment also encourages joint evaluation sessions between ANSPs and airlines, helping identify traffic bottlenecks and assess operational improvements without affecting live systems.

Supporting APAC ATM modernization efforts
The initiative aligns with Thales’ Better Skies for Asia program, launched in 2024 following guidance from the CANSO Asia Pacific ATM Modernisation white paper. The program aims to accelerate the deployment of interoperable air-traffic-management technologies across the region.

Current constraints—including fragmented FIR ownership, uneven data-sharing practices, and limited collaborative decision-making—complicate traffic flow during peak periods. Digital flow-management tools, backed by wide-area surveillance data, allow operational concepts to be tested before deployment and provide a clearer basis for coordinated traffic-flow strategies.

Industry perspectives
According to Thales, a safe and collaborative testing environment enables ANSPs to evaluate new concepts without operational risk. The company highlights that improved coordination will be essential as traffic volumes continue to rise.

Aireon notes that its space-based surveillance data has helped customers achieve up to 20% improvements in planning precision, offering a significant operational advantage when integrated into regional traffic-flow tools.

www.thalesgroup.com