Cologne, Germany. Europe’s top aviation safety regulator has warned that multiple active conflicts are squeezing flight corridors and increasing drone threats to civil aviation, adding to disruptions from wars affecting Ukraine and the Pakistan-Afghanistan region.
Narrower routes and concentrated traffic
Florian Guillermet, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), said airlines are being forced into ever-narrower corridors, notably over Azerbaijan and central Asia, creating measurable safety risks.
“It’s clear that concentrating traffic on certain routes, the availability of the airspace for air traffic control, the fact that traffic can use routes which are not so usual, can generate safety risks,” Guillermet said.
Middle East advisory renewed
Guillermet’s comments were the first from Europe’s aviation regulator since the Middle East war erupted at the end of February. On Friday, EASA renewed its advisory to avoid airspace over Iran, Israel and parts of the Gulf until 10 April.
Clearing the skies as a risk response
Guillermet, who previously ran France’s air traffic control system, said clearing the skies remained the most effective response when risk levels rise, even if it causes disruption for passengers.
“We in aviation have the means to mitigate risk. One of those means is to clear the skies,” he said in an interview at the agency’s Cologne headquarters.
Counter-drone powers and technical requirements
EASA is drafting clearer rules on what powers authorities may use to counter rogue drones targeting civil airports, with security experts increasingly linking incidents to hybrid warfare tactics.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, drone disruptions have hit airports from Stockholm to Munich, suspected though not confirmed to be connected to the conflict. Guillermet said the agency is examining technical requirements for counter-drone devices used near airports.
“We are facing a very different landscape today,” he said. “The situation we face right now is more kind of hybrid warfare.”
Broader aviation strategy overhaul
EASA, which brings together 31 European countries, is preparing a broader overhaul of its aviation strategy, addressing threats ranging from GPS interference and drone incursions to operational hazards such as unstable approaches and runway incidents.
What changes to flight routes or airport security measures have you noticed recently when traveling?