According to OAG schedule data for October 2025, 70 per cent of the world’s busiest international routes and 90 per cent of the world’ busiest domestic routes by seats available are in Asia-Pacific.
We can use AI to empower human capabilities. This does not mean replacing the human operator..."
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“With air traffic in Asia-Pacific increasing exponentially, Asia-Pacific’s air navigation service providers (ANSPs) face the critical challenge of scaling safely and efficiently to meet surging traffic demand,” says Blair Cowles, Chief International Collaboration, International Centre for Aviation Innovation.
Supporting regional aviation
The right framework
“As new technologies become more embedded within aviation, regulators may also need to consider what new skillsets are required within their organisations,” he suggests.
The International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI) is partnering across the board to encourage regional collaboration. Working with regional governments and industry and research institutes, it is helping to pool resources and co-develop solutions.
ICAI has spearheaded first-of-its-kind partnerships with the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) and CANSO to drive ATM innovation and is working on finalising similar agreements with other ANSPs and international over the coming months.
“Stronger cooperation between ANSPs is vital for improving overall system efficiency,” says Cowles. “This does not always depend on new technology. For example, enhanced operational coordination between neighbouring flight information regions can already help to smooth traffic flows. We are also prioritising resilience against disruptive weather and leveraging AI and advanced meteorology to strengthen airport and airspace operations.”
Cowles concludes that the work requires a regulatory framework that balances safety oversight and risk mitigation with an environment that is conducive to developing and trialling new concepts.
The Asia Pacific Air Navigation Services (ANS) Committee (AAC) is a good example of a multilateral initiative to coordinate and collaborate at ANSP senior management level. A multi-State free route airspace trial that came out of an AAC workstream showed that with the right framework ANSPs can work together quickly and effectively to improve operational outcomes for all stakeholders.
“Unlike European counterparts, Asia Pacific has no central coordinating body, political, regulatory or operational and varying levels of regulatory and operational maturity, which makes collaboration between ANSPs essential,” says Cowles.
Despite this, he believes there are some easy wins still available. Implementing ICAO minimum separation standards could improve efficiency almost immediately. Longer term, interoperable systems and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools like ATFM optimisation and digital ATCO assistants deserve consideration and investment.
“For example, an AI agent, customised to the expectations and ways of working of individual ATCOs could assist with providing contextual information; taking care of routine tasks; converting speech to text and vice versa; and even providing advice when prompted,” he says. “We can use AI to empower human capabilities. This does not mean replacing the human operator but shifting towards a new frontier in human-hybrid cooperation.”
It is essential that the development of aviation infrastructure... ...matches the pace of increasing demand."
Blair Cowles, Chief International Collaboration, International Centre for Aviation Innovation
“It is essential that the development of aviation infrastructure, particularly air traffic management (ATM) infrastructure and enablers like air traffic flow management (ATFM), matches the pace of increasing demand.”
Cowles says multilateral initiatives are critical so the region can move toward a “best outcome, best served” approach and city pair optimisation where ANSPs and States engage in mutually beneficial bilateral agreements to manage air traffic.
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According to OAG schedule data for October 2025, 70 per cent of the world’s busiest international routes and 90 per cent of the world’ busiest domestic routes by seats available are in Asia-Pacific.
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“It is essential that the development of aviation infrastructure, particularly air traffic management (ATM) infrastructure and enablers like air traffic flow management (ATFM), matches the pace of increasing demand.”
Cowles says multilateral initiatives are critical so the region can move toward a “best outcome, best served” approach and city pair optimisation where ANSPs and States engage in mutually beneficial bilateral agreements to manage air traffic.
We can use AI to empower human capabilities. This does not mean replacing the human operator..."
“As new technologies become more embedded within aviation, regulators may also need to consider what new skillsets are required within their organisations,” he suggests.
The International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI) is partnering across the board to encourage regional collaboration. Working with regional governments and industry and research institutes, it is helping to pool resources and co-develop solutions.
ICAI has spearheaded first-of-its-kind partnerships with the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) and CANSO to drive ATM innovation and is working on finalising similar agreements with other ANSPs and international over the coming months.
“Stronger cooperation between ANSPs is vital for improving overall system efficiency,” says Cowles. “This does not always depend on new technology. For example, enhanced operational coordination between neighbouring flight information regions can already help to smooth traffic flows. We are also prioritising resilience against disruptive weather and leveraging AI and advanced meteorology to strengthen airport and airspace operations.”
Cowles concludes that the work requires a regulatory framework that balances safety oversight and risk mitigation with an environment that is conducive to developing and trialling new concepts.
Supporting regional aviation
It is essential that the development of aviation infrastructure... ...matches the pace of increasing demand."
Blair Cowles, Chief International Collaboration, International Centre for Aviation Innovation
The Asia Pacific Air Navigation Services (ANS) Committee (AAC) is a good example of a multilateral initiative to coordinate and collaborate at ANSP senior management level. A multi-State free route airspace trial that came out of an AAC workstream showed that with the right framework ANSPs can work together quickly and effectively to improve operational outcomes for all stakeholders.
“Unlike European counterparts, Asia Pacific has no central coordinating body, political, regulatory or operational and varying levels of regulatory and operational maturity, which makes collaboration between ANSPs essential,” says Cowles.
Despite this, he believes there are some easy wins still available. Implementing ICAO minimum separation standards could improve efficiency almost immediately. Longer term, interoperable systems and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools like ATFM optimisation and digital ATCO assistants deserve consideration and investment.
“For example, an AI agent, customised to the expectations and ways of working of individual ATCOs could assist with providing contextual information; taking care of routine tasks; converting speech to text and vice versa; and even providing advice when prompted,” he says. “We can use AI to empower human capabilities. This does not mean replacing the human operator but shifting towards a new frontier in human-hybrid cooperation.”
The right framework
“With air traffic in Asia-Pacific increasing exponentially, Asia-Pacific’s air navigation service providers (ANSPs) face the critical challenge of scaling safely and efficiently to meet surging traffic demand,” says Blair Cowles, Chief International Collaboration, International Centre for Aviation Innovation.
