Europe’s air traffic management (ATM) modernization is entering a decisive phase with the rise of Iris, a satellite-based datalink communication service designed to make flight operations more efficient, connected, and sustainable.

Developed under the leadership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Inmarsat (now Viasat), Iris provides a new generation of datalink communication capability for aviation, complementing the existing VDL2 network. Its goal: to support more data-driven and environmentally efficient operations as part of Europe’s digital transformation of ATM.

The European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) is the Iris Service provider, recognizing its potential to address growing communication demands in an increasingly complex airspace. The collaboration quickly brought together all key actors — from ANSPs to aircraft manufacturers — and reached operational maturity in less than a decade, a remarkable achievement in the ATM domain.

Certified as Iris service provider in 2023, ESSP has since supported pre-commercial flights with easyJet, delivering the service free of charge to 19 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). This extensive participation demonstrated Iris’s ability to be deployed and integrated into operations rapidly and effectively.

Now entering a strategic stage, ESSP is finalizing four initial commercial contracts with ANSPs, covering a large portion of Europe’s core area. This will be a crucial step in encouraging airlines to equip their fleets with Iris satcom and in building confidence for broader deployment.

To unlock its full benefits, however, stakeholders emphasize the need for a coordinated pan-European adoption plan taking benefit of the global coverage of the Iris service. Such alignment is vital to guarantee harmonized datalink performance, accelerate airline adoption, and ensure commercial viability.

With third-generation datacom technologies still years away, Iris stands today as Europe’s only ready-to-adopt, cost-efficient solution to strengthen airspace efficiency, scalability, cut emissions, and advance digital ATM.

Check the video below to learn more about it!