RocketRoute’s systems have incorporated Free Route Airspace (FRA) for Albania. There will no longer be Air Traffic Service routes (ATS) above 33,500 feet in Albania.
Flights will now be routed via published entry and exit points using the most direct route, with a possibility of being routed via intermediate way points. This gives operators significant fuel and CO2 emission savings.
The concept of FRA goes back to 2008 in Europe and roughly 50 ACCs have partially or fully implemented free route airspace. This exceeds the original target of 35 ACCs set by the Network Manager Performance plan.
By the end of 2019, most European airspace is expected to have implemented FRA, with all airspace having operating as FRA by 2021/2022. RocketRoute will continue to keep abreast of these encouraging changes, and incorporate them into its programmes.
By the end of 2019, most European airspace is expected to have implemented FRA, with all airspace having this type of operations by 2021/2022. This progress is a result of the very close cooperation between the Network Manager, the ANSPs, military partners and airspace users.
ACCs where FRA will be available by the end of 2021.
Cross-border implementation has started and is already applicable or will soon be so in many parts of Europe, namely SAXFRA (Austria/Slovenia), SEENFRA (Romania/Hungary/Bulgaria), SEAFRA (Belgrade/Zagreb ACCs), MALTA/ITALY, NEFRA (Estonia/Latvia/Finland/Sweden/Denmark/Norway).
Europe is the first region in the world to have implemented a full FRA concept, although flight efficiency initiatives do exist in various forms in other parts of the world, such as North America and Australia.