Open data in the aviation sector: Flying towards a greener horizon
How Europe is using data to drive safety, sustainability, and innovation in aviation
As air travel grows and environmental targets tighten, Europe’s aviation sector is meeting new challenges and expectations. From modernising traffic management to reducing emissions, open data is playing an increasingly central role in shaping a safer, greener, and more efficient future for European skies.
Data4Safety (D4S), led by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, is a collaborative initiative that aims to identify systemic risks at EU level as well as their mitigations. By aggregating datasets from airlines, national authorities, and air traffic service providers, D4S enables predictive safety analytics. These insights help identify emerging risks before they escalate, enhancing safety across the continent’s airspace. Another example is the NEEDED research project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme, which is tackling the environmental impact of aviation. Using real-time flight data from ADS-B systems and local airport measurements, the project aims to develop accurate models for noise and emissions. This data-driven approach supports the design of quieter, cleaner operations around urban airports, contributing to the sustainable transport plans of the Commission.
As these initiatives demonstrate, open data is key to making aviation smarter and safer. It gives access to useful information like flight paths, weather conditions, safety reports, traffic patterns and fuel use. This helps airports run more smoothly, researchers build better tools, and policymakers make informed decisions. Open data helps airports, researchers, and policymakers understand problems, improve systems, and create new solutions.
Are you interested in how data can make flying safer and more sustainable? Explore aviation-related datasets on data.europa.eu to learn more about how Europe is transforming the skies with data.
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