Framework for Airspace Incentives and Routing Toward Sustainable Sky

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The European ATM Master Plan envisions making Europe the most efficient and environmentally sustainable airspace by 2045, in line with the European Green Deal and the EU’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. While long-term technological shifts such as electric and hydrogen propulsion will reduce aviation’s environmental footprint, near-term measures are needed to address both CO₂ and non-CO₂ emissions, the latter being more complex and impactful. To support effective regulation, the FairSky Solution provides a decision-support framework for assessing and comparing regulatory instruments, such as route charge modulation or the inclusion of non-CO₂ emissions in the Emissions Trading Scheme. The framework integrates four components: (1) a trajectory and route layer that generates optimised flight paths; (2) a network layer that models incentives under capacity and airline-specific constraints; (3) an assessment layer that simulates operational, economic, and climate impacts; and (4) a decision-support dashboard for visualising trade-offs. By explicitly incorporating uncertainties around non-CO₂ effects, FairSky enables robust evaluation of regulatory instruments (via incentive mechanisms) and fosters stakeholder engagement to ensure regulatory acceptance. Ultimately, the solution aims to accelerate aviation’s climate impact reduction by providing a transparent and comprehensive tool for policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders.