New SkyBridge Alliance selects Thales to accelerate Europe’s Air Traffic Management modernisation

Air navigation service providers Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR), Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS) and Fintraffic Air Navigation Services (FTANS) have launched the SkyBridge Alliance, marking a significant step toward deeper cross-border cooperation in European air traffic management. The alliance aims to harmonise systems and operations, strengthen resilience and efficiency, and support the objectives of the Single European Sky and the EU ATM Master Plan.

To underpin this strategy, the SkyBridge Alliance has selected an upgrade to Thales’s TopSky – ATC solution. Through this decision, the three ANSPs join the TopSky – ATC Partners group, a collaborative community of European air navigation service providers working together on the evolution of a common, interoperable air traffic control platform. The partnership is designed to accelerate system modernisation, reduce total lifecycle costs and ensure seamless operations across national borders.

The upgraded TopSky – ATC platform provides an open, cyber-secured and AI-enabled software architecture, giving controllers access to advanced tools while maintaining operational continuity and data integrity. The system is fully compliant with current European regulatory requirements, including CP1 and EASA’s Design or Production Organisation framework, ensuring long-term readiness for future ATM developments.

As part of the agreement, the SkyBridge partners have also committed to a long-term evolutive and corrective maintenance programme with Thales. This approach is intended to support continuous innovation, scalability and system resilience as air traffic management requirements evolve. In parallel, Finland and Estonia will continue to benefit from established MonoFIR and Bi-FIR functionalities, which already enable more integrated cross-border air traffic control between the two countries.

By combining shared governance of system development with harmonised operational strategies, the SkyBridge Alliance is positioning itself as a practical model for collaborative ATM modernisation in Europe—balancing efficiency, safety and sustainability while strengthening interoperability across the region’s airspace.

www.thalesgroup.com