Title: Tracing the path to green skies: a century of air traffic management development

Authors: Zhijun Wu; Xue Zhang; Raafat George Saadé; Bo Li

Addresses: School of Safety Science and Engineering, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin, 300300, China ' School of Global Governance, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China ' School of Global Governance, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China ' School of Global Governance, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

Abstract: The aviation industry's journey toward sustainability increasingly depends on how air traffic is organised, governed, and digitally transformed. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of air traffic management (ATM) through the lens of environmental performance and innovation strategy, namely the development of communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems and examines how digital transformation initiatives are redefining efficiency and safety, within environmental sustainability. Using a comparative and integrative approach, the study identifies strategic enablers and bottlenecks in the transition to a network-centric, data-driven 'green ATM'. These include challenges in data interoperability, cybersecurity, and cross-border regulatory alignment. The paper proposes a conceptual framework defining green ATM as a coordinated, global system-of-systems that leverages digital intelligence, policy harmonisation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve climate-neutral aviation. It concludes that the next competitive advantage in aviation will emerge not from fleet renewal alone but from managerial and policy innovations.

Keywords: air traffic management; ATM; security; aviation; smart transport; artificial intelligence; green ATM; CNS; SESAR; CAAMS; air space.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.154422

International Journal of Sustainable Aviation, 2026 Vol.12 No.2, pp.165 - 211

Received: 25 Oct 2025
Accepted: 08 Feb 2026
Published online: 27 Jun 2026 *

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