ATC
Europe's Free Route Airspace Opens Up Direct Routes
Free route airspace expansion has been implemented by control centers in Maastricht and Karlsruhe
Eurocontrol’s Maastricht Upper Area Control and the DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung’s Upper Area Control Center
Eurocontrol’s Maastricht Upper Area Control and the DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung’s Upper Area Control Center have opened up more direct route options.

Aircraft operators in Europe have been able to fly more direct routes since the November 30 launch of Eurocontrol’s new cross-border free route airspace operations over Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany. The changes were jointly implemented last week by Eurocontrol’s Maastricht Upper Area Control and the DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung’s Upper Area Control Center in Karlsruhe, Germany.

According to Eurocontrol, thousands more direct route options are now available, and these will reduce fuel burn and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The air traffic management agency said it will give aircraft operators more efficient flight planning options not only over Germany and the Benelux countries but on longer cross-border routes between the UK and Poland.