The impact of major disruptions on the sustainability of Eastern European air traffic flow
Pentikäinen, Carmen Cristina (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051913374
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025051913374
Tiivistelmä
This thesis investigates how the Ukraine conflict has influenced the sustainability of en-route air traffic management (ATM) in Romanian airspace by addressing its environmental, operational, and social dimensions. The research was driven by the growing recognition of aviation’s environmental impact and the increasing complexity of ATM systems during periods of geopolitical disruption. The study examines how restricted access to Ukrainian and neighboring airspace led to significant rerouting of flights, resulting in extended trajectories, higher fuel use, and greater pressure on air traffic controllers. These operational changes have challenged their ability to maintain safe and efficient traffic management in a more constrained and demanding environment.
To assess these impacts, the study first gathered qualitative insights from questionnaires completed by air traffic controllers and supervisors, capturing leadership perspectives on workload, coordination, and adaptation. In parallel, quantitative data derived from EUROCONTROL’s NEST and IMPACT tools modeled representative flight trajectories before and after the crisis, revealing increased CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption linked to longer routes and constrained airspace. Survey responses from 22 Romanian en-route ATCOs further highlighted increased operational workload, frequent military interference, and coordination difficulties across flight information regions. Recognition of the environmental consequences of rerouted traffic was more consistent among controllers with greater experience.
The research also explored social sustainability challenges, including stress, fatigue, adaptability, and the critical need for institutional support. These findings were triangulated across data sources and connected to the safety-efficiency paradox, a persistent challenge in disrupted ATM operations.
Overall, the thesis contributes to academic and practical understanding by linking sustainability frameworks with the realities of air traffic control during systemic shocks. It stresses that achieving sustainable ATM requires more than technical solutions; it depends on skilled human decision-making, cross-border collaboration, and strategic system alignment. The Romanian case provides timely insights into ATM resilience amid regional disruption, offering transferable lessons for broader European application.
To assess these impacts, the study first gathered qualitative insights from questionnaires completed by air traffic controllers and supervisors, capturing leadership perspectives on workload, coordination, and adaptation. In parallel, quantitative data derived from EUROCONTROL’s NEST and IMPACT tools modeled representative flight trajectories before and after the crisis, revealing increased CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption linked to longer routes and constrained airspace. Survey responses from 22 Romanian en-route ATCOs further highlighted increased operational workload, frequent military interference, and coordination difficulties across flight information regions. Recognition of the environmental consequences of rerouted traffic was more consistent among controllers with greater experience.
The research also explored social sustainability challenges, including stress, fatigue, adaptability, and the critical need for institutional support. These findings were triangulated across data sources and connected to the safety-efficiency paradox, a persistent challenge in disrupted ATM operations.
Overall, the thesis contributes to academic and practical understanding by linking sustainability frameworks with the realities of air traffic control during systemic shocks. It stresses that achieving sustainable ATM requires more than technical solutions; it depends on skilled human decision-making, cross-border collaboration, and strategic system alignment. The Romanian case provides timely insights into ATM resilience amid regional disruption, offering transferable lessons for broader European application.