Shaping Future Skies: CATS highlights from Airspace World 2025

The recent Airspace World 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal,  provided a powerful platform for advancing the Complete Air Traffic System (CATS) Global Council’s Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Future Skies. With over 7,000 industry professionals from more than 145 countries, 200 exhibitors, and 300 expert speakers, it was our largest and most influential event to date, as we all came together to help shape the  global conversation on the future of airspace.

Over the course of the event, CATS CONOPS was at the heart of multiple high-level panels and strategic discussions, which brought together industry leaders, operational experts, regulators, and innovators from around the world.

A big reveal at the Leadership Summit

The CANSO Leadership Summit, held at Lisbon’s historic Convento do Beato brought together over 400 senior aviation leaders for a high-level exchange on the future of air traffic management. The central focus of the Summit was to formally introduce the CATS CONOPS to the global leadership community—positioning it as a unifying vision to guide airspace transformation through 2045.

The Summit saw the unveiling of the CATS CONOPS video, a dynamic visual that captures the core principles of the CATS CONOPS: collaboration, innovation, safety, and seamless integration of all airspace users.

 Twelve voices, one vision: CATS CONOPS Panel

At Airspace World itself, a standout moment for me was the CATS CONOPS Panel, featuring 12 industry leaders from across all continents and sectors. The session unpacked how the CATS vision translates into practical action—from digital transformation to performance-based regulation—and explored how different regions are aligning with the roadmap. The diversity of perspectives reinforced the global relevance and momentum behind the CATS initiative.

Human-Centric Transformation

The human dimension of airspace transformation was also the main theme of a panel discussion that brought together CANSO’s President and CEO, Simon Hocquard, and representatives from the Global Air Traffic Control Alliance. The discussion explored the evolving roles of aviation professionals in a digital and increasingly automated environment, emphasising the need for transparency, training, and a human-first approach to change.

Safety at the core of CATS

The crucial safety dimension of the CATS CONOPS  was the subject of another key session, which highlighted how data-driven, collaborative safety strategies are essential to enabling future airspace. Experts shared insights on predictive analytics, safety intelligence, and how the CATS framework supports smarter, more resilient safety systems.

Tomorrow’s Voices: Empowering the next generation
As part of the broader CATS activities, Tomorrow’s Voices returned to Airspace World with renewed energy—offering young professionals, students, and early-career innovators a platform to engage with senior leaders and help shape the future of aviation.

Activities included guided tours, expert briefings, and a dedicated panel on talent attraction and retention in the era of digital transformation. Tomorrow’s Voices not only amplifies the voices of emerging talent, but directly supports the CATS vision for a future-ready, inclusive, and human-centric airspace system.

Other Key Dialogues: From TBO to Space and Civil-Military Coordination

Beyond the flagship sessions, CATS was also a central reference in panels dedicated to Trajectory-Based Operations (TBO), Higher Airspace Operations, space traffic coordination, and civil-military integration—each offering concrete illustrations of how the CONOPS is influencing real-world strategies and implementation pathways.

Global Council momentum

Finally, we were proud to host a high-level CATS Global Council meeting, bringing together representatives from every region and sector of the aviation industry. The Council reviewed our contribution to the upcoming 42nd ICAO Assembly, discussed how to keep building momentum, and reaffirmed the need for global engagement and alignment. The energy in the room was a clear signal that the CATS community is strong, growing, and committed to action.

Looking ahead

As we move forward, the focus is on deepening regional engagement, contributing meaningfully to ICAO processes, and driving implementation of the CATS CONOPS across the aviation ecosystem.

Thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners who made Airspace World 2025 such a pivotal moment for the CATS journey.