Thales Supports SkyBridge Alliance as Three European ANSPs Unite on ATC Modernisation

From left to right: Jan Klas, CEO Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR); Youzec Kurp, Vice President, Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales; Emeline Lopez, Head of Sales Europe, Airspace Mobility Solutions, Thales; Ivar Värk, CEO Estonian Air Navigation Services AS (EANS), and Raine Luojus, CEO Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd (FTANS). © Pierre Olivier / CAPA Pictures.

(IN BRIEF) Thales is supporting the newly launched SkyBridge Alliance, which brings together air navigation service providers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Finland to modernise and harmonise European air traffic management. The alliance has selected an upgraded version of Thales’s TopSky – ATC system and joined a wider European ANSP partnership focused on interoperable ATC solutions. Through shared technology, coordinated operations, and alignment with the EU ATM Master Plan, SkyBridge aims to deliver cost efficiencies, operational synergies, and long-term sustainability across European airspace.

(PRESS RELEASE) LA DÉFENSE, 9-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Thales is supporting a major step forward in European air traffic management as Air Navigation Service Providers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Finland formally launch the SkyBridge Alliance. The new alliance brings together Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Estonian Air Navigation Services, and Fintraffic Air Navigation Services with the shared goal of harmonising operations, strengthening cross-border cooperation, and accelerating innovation across European airspace.

As part of the alliance, the three ANSPs have selected an upgrade of Thales’s TopSky – ATC solution as their common air traffic control platform. This decision brings the SkyBridge partners into the TopSky – ATC Partners group, a collaborative community of European ANSPs jointly developing interoperable ATC systems to support safe, seamless, and efficient operations across national borders. The shared platform approach is intended to accelerate modernisation, reduce lifecycle costs, and ensure long-term interoperability in line with European regulatory requirements.

The SkyBridge Alliance has been established to deliver tangible cost efficiencies and operational synergies while aligning closely with the objectives of the Single European Sky and the EU ATM Master Plan. By coordinating technology investments and operational strategies, the alliance aims to enhance the resilience, reliability, and sustainability of air traffic management services in the participating countries.

Jan Klas, CEO of Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, Ivar Värk, CEO of Estonian Air Navigation Services AS, and Raine Luojus, CEO of Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd, said the creation of the SkyBridge Alliance represents a significant milestone in cross-border ATM cooperation. They noted that aligning technological and operational roadmaps provides a stronger foundation for a more interoperable and efficient European airspace, while supporting long-term service continuity.

The upgraded TopSky – ATC system provides advanced controller tools and a modern, open, cyber-secure software architecture. It enables the introduction of new functionalities while safeguarding operational continuity and data integrity. The solution is fully compliant with CP1 regulation and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Design or Production Organisation framework, ensuring future-ready capability as ATM requirements continue to evolve.

In addition to system deployment, the three ANSPs have entered into a long-term evolutive and corrective maintenance agreement with Thales. This arrangement supports continuous innovation, scalability, and system resilience. Fintraffic Air Navigation Services and Estonian Air Navigation Services will also continue to benefit from MonoFIR and Bi-FIR functionalities already implemented in Finland and Estonia, further advancing seamless cross-border air traffic control.

Youzec Kurp, Vice President for Airspace Mobility Solutions at Thales, said the company is proud to support the SkyBridge Alliance with a future-ready ATC solution aligned with the goals of the Single European Sky. He emphasised that TopSky – ATC is designed to help ANSPs deliver safer, more efficient air traffic services while adapting to technological and regulatory change.

By combining shared governance of system evolution with interoperable technology and aligned investment strategies, the SkyBridge Alliance establishes a new model for regional ATM collaboration, contributing to Europe’s ambition for a safer, greener, and more connected sky.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

About the SkyBridge Alliance

The SkyBridge Alliance is a newly formed partnership made up of Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR), Estonian Air Navigation Services AS (EANS) and Fintraffic Air Navigation Services Ltd (FTANS). The alliance reflects a shared ambition to harmonise systems and operations in line with the Single European Sky and the EU ATM Master Plan, advancing Europe’s vision of a safer, greener, and more connected sky.

Media Contacts:

Thales, Media relations: pressroom@thalesgroup.com

ANS CR: Richard Klima, Head of Communication Department, klima@ans.cz, + 420 724 172 186

EANS: Annika Koppel, Communications Manager, annika.koppel@eans.ee, + 372 5335 9153

FTANS: Leena Huhtamaa, leena.huhtamaa@fintraffic.fr, + 358 40 756 3819

SOURCE: Thales