EUR 35 million from EBRD for SMATSA upgrade

The EBRD is providing a loan of EUR 35 million to Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services (SMATSA) LLC to help improve the provision of air navigation services in the two countries. The loan proceeds will be used to finance hardware and software upgrades of SMATSA’s air traffic control system and data processing system and an upgrade of its aeronautical fixed telecommunications network (AFTN) system and aeronautical message handling system (AMHS), the EBRD announced.

As stated, this work will be a key element in the company’s wide-ranging modernization program, which also includes a new annex to an existing air traffic control building to increase capacity, new control towers in the airports of Belgrade and Nis, and a contingency centre in Nis.

The project is part of the wider Single European Sky program, which aims to improve safety, capacity and flight efficiency. Single European Sky is an initiative, run by the European Commission, to coordinate the upgrading of Europe’s infrastructure for air traffic management. It includes upgrades in EU countries as well as improvements in neighboring countries, which will make cooperation between systems more reliable, it is added.

The EBRD and SMATSA previously cooperated in 2005, when the Bank provided a loan of €33.5 million for a modernization program, the press release reminds. The successful completion of the 2005 project enabled SMATSA to improve its services, comply with pan-European standards, and operate in line with EUROCONTROL guidelines.

EBRD Evropska banka za obnovu i razvoj Beograd

Kontrola letenja Srbije i Crne Gore SMATSA d.o.o. Beograd

A.D. Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd

Aerodrom Konstantin Veliki Niš

EUROCONTROL Brussels

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EBRD

Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services

SMATSA

Nikola Tesla Airport

Constantine the Great Airport

Belgrade Airport

Nis Airport

Single European Sky program

Eurocontrol

aeronautical fixed telecommunications network system

AFTN

aeronautical message handling system

AMHS