Sky Wars: Europe Battles to Erase Borders in the Air

Money does not necessarily guarantee safety or efficiency, and Europe is trying to reduce airline industry costs by eliminating national boundaries and bureaucracy in air-traffic control. Iceland’s 2010 volcanic eruption, spewing ash into the sky, demonstrated haphazard rules and need for coordination. “The battle for Europe's skies – which directly affects every traveler, economy and air force across the continent – is a microcosm of the EU's larger struggle to pull down national barriers and improve the region's competitiveness,” writes Daniel Michaels for the Wall Street Journal. In 2008, air-traffic controllers in Spain earned on average $500,000; training took a backseat to wages. The government used the military to end a holiday strike and force controllers back to work. Streamlining regulation could reduce delays, fuel consumption and pollution. Michaels compares US and European air-traffic control: The US has one government-run system with 70 percent more flights and 7 percent fewer controllers. – YaleGlobal