Flight Dispatcher Days 2025

25 March 2025: Ahead of a challenging summer, with European air traffic expected to increase by 5 per cent compared to last year, airline operational control centre staff from across the world gathered at EUROCONTROL HQ for the 2025 Flight Dispatcher Days. Supported by ERA, IATA, A4E, EUFALDA and IFALDA, the event aimed to equip flight dispatchers and planners with the tools, insights and best practices needed to navigate the months ahead.

ERA was represented by Nick Rhodes, Head of Operations, Safety and Infrastructure, who provided a joint association perspective following opening remarks by Iacopo Prissinotti, Director Network Management. With representation from 26 ERA member airlines, the strong attendance demonstrated the regional sector’s commitment to working collaboratively in tackling the operational challenges ahead.

Over three days, discussions covered:

• Updates on key Network Manager tools, including NMP Flight, FATHOM, and MIRROR.

• Live demonstrations of rerouting solutions, delay mitigation strategies, and flight planning best practices.

• Collaboration with air navigation service providers (ANSPs) to enhance operational efficiency.

• The implementation of FF-ICE, focusing on the challenges and solutions for transitioning to the new flight plan format.

Presentations and recordings from the event are available here.

9 December 2024: Following a successful inaugural event earlier this year, Flight Dispatcher Days returns in 2025, running from 18–20 March. Supported by ERA, IATA, A4E, EUFALDA and IFALDA, this event will allow flight dispatchers and flight planners to share knowledge, engage with Network Manager (NM) tools and systems and understand air traffic flow management best practices, all with the aim of improving operational efficiency ahead of Summer 2025 operations.

Taking place at the EUROCONTROL Headquarters in Brussels, the event will span three days. The first two days, 18–19 March, will focus on Flight Dispatcher Days. On the first day, participants will take a dive deep into NM support tools and explore how they can be applied to improve operations. The second day will feature practical demonstrations by aircraft operators, showcasing their achievements and discussing key topics such as handling rejections, advanced rerouting strategies and enhancing communication with the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC). Throughout these days, attendees can look forward to keynote addresses, engaging Q&A sessions, and ample networking opportunities.

On 20 March, the event will shift focus to FF-ICE. This one-day hybrid event will delve into the implementation of the ICAO FF-ICE concept, which is set to replace the ICAO Flight Plan 2012 for IFR flights in the EU, Norway and Switzerland by the end of 2025. Participants will explore the challenges and solutions associated with the new flight plan format through practical demonstrations and discussions.

For ERA airline members, the event offers OCC staff the chance to gain insights into the latest advancements in NM operational systems, which are crucial for optimising flight planning, minimising delays and improving overall operational efficiency. Additionally, ERA members will have the opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences and build professional relationships that can lead to collaborative solutions in the face of operational challenges and disruptions.

Pre-registration is open until 20 December 2024, with final confirmation of participation to be sent by the end of January 2025.

Due to the expected high level of interest, there will be a maximum of two seats available per AO, you are therefore encouraged to send representatives who can share the knowledge gained within their organisation and who did not attend the previous event.

To register for this free event, please click here - Flight Dispatcher Days 2025 | EUROCONTROL