Managing growing air traffic demand while maintaining safe, efficient and predictable operations remains one of the central challenges for European air traffic management. The European ATM Master Plan sets the direction towards a more data-driven, collaborative and dynamic approach to capacity management, combining local optimisation with network-wide coordination. These developments were explored during the SESAR Walking Tour at Airspace World 2026, guided by Oznur Uygur, SESAR Joint Undertaking.

Smarter sector configuration: anticipating demand at airport level

Balancing traffic demand and sector capacity in complex airspace requires more accurate forecasting and more flexible sector configurations. This was demonstrated through the ISLAND project, presented at the AT-One / NLR stand by Jürgen Teutsch, focusing on the use of advanced predictive methods and decision-support tools to improve traffic flow forecasting and optimise sector configurations within the Amsterdam flight information Region (AMS-FIR). The demonstration showed a supervisor decision-support environment combining traffic demand forecasts with smart sector configuration tools, and configuration pathway optimisation. This enables operational supervisors to assess and adjust optimal sector configurations across both day-before (D-1) planning and day-of-operation (D0) execution. The system supports workload estimation, sector capacity management, and operational complexity reduction, including adaptation to both nominal and non-nominal traffic scenarios requiring dynamic reconfiguration. Supported by validations in the NLR ATM Research Simulator NARSIM real-time simulation environment, the tool illustrated how better anticipation of demand can improve local capacity management and reduce operational complexity.

Improving arrival management at network level

Managing airspace demand and capacity in complex environments requires advanced decision-support and flexible sector configuration. At the NATS stand, Adrian Clark presented ISLAND developments focusing on dynamic airspace configuration (DAC) supported by the iACM tool.

The demonstration showed how flow management positions and group supervisors can detect and resolve demand-capacity imbalances using key indicators such as complexity, entry, and occupancy. The tool supports optimisation of sector configurations and configuration pathways within tactical time horizons from T-30 minutes to T-8 hours.

Through real-time human-in-the-loop simulation in high-complexity UK airspace, the exercise validated improved CDM functionality, enhanced HMI, and advanced automation support, demonstrating potential benefits in decision-making, capacity management, and operational efficiency without compromising safety.Managing complexity: from traffic forecasting to sector planning

As traffic patterns become more volatile, managing airspace complexity requires tools that combine forecasting, workload assessment and sector planning in a single operational view.

In this context, the ROMairTCM project, presented at the DANUBE FAB stand by Adrian Mareș, ROMATSA, introduced an integrated tool for dynamic traffic forecasting and sectorisation planning. The system provides real-time visualisation of predicted traffic demand, sector complexity and controller workload, enabling flow management positions and supervisors to take timely decisions. By integrating data from multiple sources, including SWIM services, meteorological information and flight data systems, the tool supports more accurate forecasting and improved capacity planning, particularly in regions affected by complex or atypical traffic flows.

AI-powered weather forecasting

Weather remains one of the most significant drivers of capacity constraints, making early and accurate prediction essential for effective planning. At the ENAIRE stand, Dr. Aniel Jardines, AI methods, presented the KAIROS project, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can enhance the prediction of convective weather phenomena (e.g. CB clouds, heavy precipitation, turbulence, lightning, and associated hazards).Through a live interface, participants explored 48-hour probabilistic forecasts showing the development and evolution of storm activity across Europe. The system illustrated improved predictive capability, reduced false alarms, and more precise identification of operationally relevant weather impacts. These AI driven meteorological capabilities support earlier and more informed ATM decision-making by enabling better anticipation of capacity constraints, improved traffic flow planning, and enhanced resilience of airspace operations..

Aligning local and network decision-making

Ensuring consistency between local actions and network objectives requires stronger coordination mechanisms and shared situational awareness across stakeholders. This was a central focus of the HARMONIC project, presented across multiple stands by Jacek Kopec, EUROCONTROL, Andrés Rodríguez Carrasco, Indra, Esther Delgado Pinedo, EUROCONTROL
Natividad Valle Fernandez, CRIDA A.I.E. Giuseppe DI Bitonto, ENAV, who presented the project’s work on advanced tools for integrated demand and capacity balancing were demonstrated.

The project validated the integration of dynamic airspace configuration with demand-capacity balancing, showing how sector configurations can be adapted in real time to traffic demand. Demonstrations included the handling of dynamic mobile areas and the use of automated tools to support coordination between local flow management positions and the Network Manager, improving both operational flexibility and overall network performance.

The demonstration illustrated HARMONIC’s enhanced demand management solution (#0381), which introduces a harmonised approach to managing demand–capacity imbalances across the European air traffic network, building on existing DCB functions such as imbalance monitoring, complexity assessment, the network operations plan (NOP) and performance-based operations. Participants observed how traffic situations are identified through a common “spot management” concept—covering hotspots, coldspots, optispots, protection hotspots and netspots—forming a shared operational picture that strengthens situational awareness and supports coordinated decision-making between local actors and the Network Manager. The exercise also highlighted automated regional constraint reconciliation, translating airspace user target times into CTOTs to improve consistency and fairness in demand management, alongside the enhancing DCB efficiency – advanced DAC process solution (#0382), which integrates dynamic airspace configuration with collaborative decision-making through improved coordination, including dynamic mobile areas supported by digital NOTAMs, weather constraints, and the use of optimisation tools and “what-if” capabilities for more adaptive planning across pre-tactical and tactical phases. Overall, the demonstration showed how shared data, automation and AI-supported tools enhance situational awareness, improve predictability and coordination, and enable a more resilient and efficiently balanced ATM network.

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Read about capacity and demand planning in the European ATM Master Plan

More about the 2026 SESAR Walking Tours