Iris is ESA’s satellite-based solution to modernise Air Traffic Management (ATM) in Europe and beyond, enabling secure digital communications between pilots and controllers to reduce CO₂ emissions, cut delays, and support growing air traffic
Already in commercial use by easyJet, Iris is scalable, globally interoperable, and backed by major partners like Airbus and Viasat to support both manned aviation and regulated drone operations.
Features
Background to Iris Global
Today’s air traffic communications still rely heavily on analog voice via Very High Frequency (VHF) radio, a method that was introduced more than 100 years ago. With the number of global flights expected to increase by 50% in the coming decades, the current ATM system is not equipped to safely and efficiently handle this growth.
The Iris programme was developed by ESA in partnership with Viasat (formerly Inmarsat) to meet this long-standing demand for digitalisation in aviation. By offering a secure and resilient satellite-based datalink, Iris complements terrestrial systems and enables real-time, reliable communication between pilots and controllers, even in regions beyond reach of HVF or ground networks.
Following successful deployment in Europe, Iris Global represents the next step: a globally interoperable service aligned with ICAO’s Aviation System Block Upgrades (ASBUs) and designed to support a safer, greener and more scalable future for aviation globally.
Iris Global Vision
Iris Global aims to become a globally harmonised datalink service, interoperable with major ATM frameworks and compliant with ICAO’s Internet Protocol Suite (IPS) standard under development.
Deployment
In January 2024, easyJet became the first commercial airline to operate Iris-equipped aircraft across Europe, with over 1,000 successful flights completed using European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)-certified systems. The performance exceeded all applicable standards, proving the operational maturity and reliability of the Iris solution.
Several other airlines are now preparing for adoption, while hundreds of Airbus aircrafts are expected to be equipped the coming years, with thousands possible by 2030.
Global partnerships are already in motion to scale up the Iris service beyond Europe, including cooperations such as Airbus, Boeing and various Civil Aviation authorities across regions.
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Christophe Allemand
ESA HQ
8-10 rue Mario Nikis, CS 45741
75738 Paris Cedex 15, France
+33 (0)153 697654
Christophe.Allemand@esa.int
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