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Unions representing professionals who work for the UK air traffic control provider, NATS, have welcomed a call by the French and German governments' air traffic management providers for the European Commission to abandon its plans for a new legislative programme for a Single European Sky (SES2).



Prospect and PCS and unions, who represent 4,000 professional air traffic management staff, welcomed the decision from two of Europe's largest ATM providers to write to the Commission. The UK unions regard the letters as a major blow to the Commission's proposals.



PCS and Prospect have now called on the UK government, the Department for Transport and NATS to follow suit and write to the European Commission to ask it to abandon SES2+ and refocus on existing SES legislation.



Under the Single European Sky (SES) proposals, the European Commission wants to halve Air Traffic Management (ATM) costs by 2020, resulting in huge job losses across Europe.



NATS, is Britain’s leading provided of air traffic control services, handles 2.2 million flights and 220 million passengers in UK airspace every year. In addition to providing services to 15 UK airports, NATS works in 30 countries around the world with contracts including those in Spain, the Middle East, the USA and Hong Kong. NATS staff fear that the Commission's proposals will affect the service provided to airlines and passengers and put safety at risk through over-stretched air traffic management resources.



PCS and Prospect have stepped up their lobbying work and participated in a lively demonstration outside the UK’s Department for Transport on 12 June against plans to cut jobs and costs in air traffic control. Staff handed in a letter calling on the Minister, Simon Burns MP, to support the French and German position.



Emily Boase, Prospect National Secretary, said: The decision by Germany and France must be a blow to the Commission's proposal for new SES legislation. Given the UK's prominence in European ATM service delivery we are calling on the UK to publicly support the French and German position."



Jeremy Gautrey, PCS Aviation Group Secretary, said: "Action taken by ETF unions across 11 counties, including a three day strike in France, shows the strength of feeling among professional ATM staff. The UK government now has the opportunity to seize the lead in opposing legislation that will damage the ATM industry."



Prospect represents 3,000 people working as controllers, systems engineers, scientists and specialists. PCS represents 1,000 NATS operational and support staff.



Both unions are affiliated to UNI Global Union.