ICAO Air Navigation World (ANW) 2026 – Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM)
In this edition of ANW, the focus is on the rollout of the new ICAO provisions related to ATFM, envisaged to be applicable in November 2030. These provisions mark a decisive shift; ATFM will no longer be optional but an operational necessity for all States, air navigation services providers (ANSPs) and airspace users. To ensure global readiness, the sessions will offer concrete, practical guidance to support timely implementation, while exploring key enablers for a modern, performance-driven air traffic management (ATM) system. The list of subjects specifically tailored to flow management, to be covered during the event, is in the attachment.
Throughout the event, participants will gain experience that underpins future compliance with ICAO ATFM requirements. By understanding these provisions and their practical implications, participants will be better positioned to support the implementation of ATFM effectively and ensure seamless, resilient, and optimized services across the entire aviation system. This event contributes toward achieving the ICAO Strategic Goals “Every Flight Is Safe and Secure”, “Aviation Is Environmentally Sustainable” and “Aviation Delivers Seamless, Accessible, and Reliable Mobility for All”.
Preliminary List of Topics
1. Setting The Scene: Implementation, Expectations and Challenges
- Net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
- Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP, Doc 9750)
- ICAO Regional developments related to ATFM
- State regulators and air navigation services providers
- Airspace users
- Enabling New Entrants
2. Milestones towards Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM)
- Establishment of ATFM
- Airspace and airports capacity assessments
- Airport collaborative decision making (A-CDM)/total airport management (TAM)
- Aviation system block upgrade (ASBU) threads related to ATFM
- Regional and sub-regional ATFM solutions
3. Flight Planning and Information Enablers
- Air-ground and ground-ground ATS data link operations
- Flight and flow – information for collaborative environment (FF-ICE)
- System-wide information management (SWIM)/Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) – NOTAM/digital operational reporting information service (DORIS)
- Concept of connected aircraft (CA)
- Aeronautical Meteorological Information (MET)
4. Operational Enablers
- Contingency Management Frameworks
- Civil-military cooperation and flexible use of airspace (FUA)
- Free route airspace
- Performance-based navigation (PBN), continuous climb and descent operations
- Project 30/10 and enroute separation minima
- Separation minima in the terminal area, including wake turbulence separation minima
5. A Look Towards the Future Involving ATFM
- Global ATM Operational Concept (GATMOC)
- Trajectory Based Operations (TBO)
- Space transport operations (STO)
- Higher Airspace Operations (HAO)
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM)
For any questions, please contact anw-atfm [at] icao.int (anw-atfm[at]icao[dot]int)