Austro Control and Slovenia Control implement cross border free route airspace

Austro Control and Slovenia Control implemented (10-Nov-2016) Slovenian Austrian cross border free route airspace (SAXFRA) on 10-Nov-2016. Without any vertical and time-based restrictions, the airspace marks the first time such a milestone has been achieved in Europe. The companies stated "virtually all airways" (air traffic service routes) in the airspace will disappear, with aircraft now able to operate between predefined entry and exit points using the most direct route possible. Enabling free route airspace in the FIR offers an estimated saving of 13,000kg of fuel and 43,000kg of CO2 emissions daily. Free route airspace is due to be implemented in the whole of FAB Central Europe airspace, comprising Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, by 2019. [more - original PR - English/German]