The largest exercise for air warfare operations since NATO was founded will also have an impact on civil aviation in Europe from June 12 to 23, 2023 as “Air Defender 2023”.
This week, German Air Traffic Control (DFS) announced on NDR that the NATO Air Defender exercise next June will have a major impact on civil aviation. Large airspaces will be reserved for the military as part of the training flights, meaning that civilian air traffic will have less freedom of movement. “In order to be able to safely manage traffic in the remaining airspace, so-called control measures will be necessary. Our civilian customers must therefore expect longer flight paths and probably considerable delays,” DFS recently announced. This means that spatial and temporary closures within German and parts of European airspace must be expected.
The sporadic closures of civil airspace will also have an impact on Austrian civil airspace. Airports, airlines and air traffic control are currently exchanging information on this. Detailed traffic forecasts are being prepared, but the airlines are not currently specifying what this means for individual flights. Passengers are asked to contact the airline of the booked flight or their travel agency directly to clarify any possible effects on their planned journey.
According to the German Armed Forces, a total of 10,000 people from 25 nations with more than 220 aircraft will take part in the exercise. A total of 20 different types of aircraft have been announced.