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The annual budget for the Maastricht-based air traffic control in the Benelux countries and large parts of north-west Germany threatens to fail due to resistance from Belgium. The air traffic controllers' union TUEM warns of serious consequences for air traffic in 2023.
"The fact that Belgium is once again the only country to block the budget of Europe's most productive air traffic control center is selfish, irresponsible and endangers smooth and safe air traffic in Europe," emphasizes TUEM President Stefan Pille. The Maastricht Upper Area Control Center (MUAC) monitors the airspace over Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and large parts of north-west Germany. The air traffic controllers based there direct 5.000 aircraft with over 500.000 passengers every day through one of the most complex and dense airspaces in the world. The countries Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany share the funding.
MUAC has the highest productivity values of all air traffic control centers in Europe. Sales have been higher than expenses for over 20 years, and even during the Corona crisis, when air traffic plummeted worldwide, a positive result was generated. The profits benefit the sponsoring countries. "All countries, including Belgium, get significantly more back from MUAC every year than they pay in - even in the past crisis years," emphasized Pille.
"Therefore, it is completely unacceptable that Belgium puts its own political interests ahead of the interests of passengers and employees." Pille pointed out that the work of the air traffic controllers in the past three years was above average. The background was staff shortages due to the corona pandemic and most recently the increase in civil and military air traffic due to the war in Ukraine. "Uncertainty as to whether their salaries can be paid in 2023 is the last thing the heavily burdened controllers need," said Pille. He expects a clear commitment to MUAC from Belgium. If this does not happen, industrial action by air traffic controllers in German, Dutch, Belgian and Luxembourg airspace from January 2023 is very likely.
