Passengers on Italian airline ITA Airways will be able to fly smarter and greener and with less delays thanks to the airline’s recent implementation of the Iris technology, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and global communications company Viasat.

Currently, pilots mostly communicate to air traffic controllers by voice or using ground systems with limited data-sending capacity. This not only makes flight operations inefficient, but these systems have become congested due to increased flights. The Iris system uses satellites communications to send highly secure, high-bandwidth data between aircraft and ground traffic controllers.

Having been already implemented in one of the four ITA Airways Airbus A320neo aircraft flying primarily between Milan and Rome, the Iris system helps pilots identify the shortest routes at the optimum altitudes. Flying more efficiently enables pilots to save time and fuel, while cutting CO₂ emissions.

Developed in partnership with UK-based satellite communication company Inmarsat, acquired by Viasat in 2023, Iris puts the European Commission’s Single European Sky initiative into action. The campaign aims to improve air traffic management in Europe, by improving safety, capacity, cost-efficiency and reducing the environmental impact.

IRIS for greener skies
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Existing air traffic management communications imply that planes have to be kept further apart from one another and follow suboptimal paths instead of taking the most direct route. Iris technology enables digital, real-time communications, and thereby offloads current ground systems for air traffic management, demonstrating how satellites can complement terrestrial infrastructure.

Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at ESA, said: “With the addition of ITA Airways to the Iris service, another milestone has been achieved in supporting the European Commission’s Single European Sky vision for an efficient and environmentally friendly European airspace. The adoption of Iris is a key milestone for space-based solutions, supporting European Air Traffic Management, which will – in turn – pave the way for global use. By supporting Iris through an ESA public-private partnership, we are delighted to combine our expertise with those of leading aviation actors across the continent and beyond it.” 

Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said “The introduction of Iris technology on our aircraft represents a significant step forward in enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. At ITA Airways, we are deeply committed to supporting the modernization of European airspace as part of the roadmap toward the Single European Sky, and to playing an active role in the advancement of Air Traffic Management. Through this partnership with Viasat, ESA, and ESSP, the Iris Service Provider, we will improve flight punctuality, optimize fuel consumption, and further reduce emissions. This initiative perfectly complements our ongoing fleet renewal program, which already comprises 69% of new-generation aircraft—delivering greater value to our passengers and contributing to a more sustainable future for air travel in Italy and across Europe.”

“We’re thrilled to see Iris taking to the skies on ITA Airways’ flights across Europe,” said Joel Klooster, SVP Flight Safety and Advanced Air Mobility at Viasat. “ITA has been committed to the goals of the Single European Skies initiative for a long time, and it’s been fantastic to work so closely with them, as well as our partners ESA and ESSP, to bring the benefits of Iris’ next-generation technology to more flights and passengers across Europe. We look forward to seeing success with these flights, and to rolling out the program across more routes and airlines soon.”

Charlotte Neyret, CEO at ESSP, said: “We are thrilled that ITA Airways is now using the Iris Service, marking a major step forward expanding operations across Europe. This is a strategic milestone that highlights the increasing pace of adoption and the growing relevance of Iris in European aviation. Having an additional leading European airline onboard strengthens the network, extends Iris usage across more airspace, and confirms the growing trust in the service’s reliability and impact. It’s a win that reflects both progress and potential, opening new doors for growth throughout the region.”

Source: ESA