Celebrating innovation, excellence, and achievement in air traffic management at Airspace World 2027 in Lisbon.
Recognising Excellence in ATM
The Seamless Skies Awards have been developed to recognise exceptional achievements in the global air traffic management (ATM) and UAS traffic management (UTM) sectors during 2026. As the individual categories are defined also expect to see new market entrants such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM).
The Seamless Skies Awards celebrate the individuals, teams, and organisations driving progress in global air traffic management. Presented at Airspace World 2027, the awards recognise innovation, leadership, collaboration, and sustainability shaping the skies of tomorrow.
Join Us for the Seamless Skies Awards Ceremony
Celebrate the people, partnerships and innovations shaping the future of global airspace at the Seamless Skies Awards Ceremony. Taking place live at Airspace World, this is your opportunity to recognise outstanding achievements across the industry, connect with peers, and be part of a moment that highlights what progress looks like in action. Whether you are supporting shortlisted entries or simply want to see who is leading the way, we invite you to join us for this special gathering of the airspace community.
The Seamless Skies Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 25 May, from 16:00 to 16:30 in the Boeing Theatre at Airspace World, followed immediately by a post-awards drinks reception in the same location from 16:30 to 17:15.
Directions: The Boeing Theatre is located within Hall 2 at Airspace World. Follow venue signage or consult the event floorplan to find your way. We recommend arriving a few minutes early to secure your seat.
Award Categories
The Seamless Skies Awards feature categories designed to highlight the breadth of innovation across air traffic management. Select the category that best showcases your achievement.
1
Collaborative operations for sustainable skies
This award recognises successful collaborations/partnerships between ANSPs, airlines, airports, military organisations, regulators and other stakeholders to improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability. Working together for better outcomes.
2
Innovative Solutions to Enable Future Skies
Submissions should focus on innovations that are accelerating aviation modernisation. Topics should include themes such as automation, digital technologies and interoperable systems that are enabling safer, smarter and more efficient airspace. Entries in this category need to explain how the project is truly innovating the way an industry challenge is being addressed.
3
Airspace Safety, Security & Resilience
Trust is a key component in our increasingly complex world. This category acknowledges projects that resulted in strengthening safety, cyber resilience and operational continuity while embracing automation and digital technologies.
4
Services unlocking the potential of uncrewed aviation
Regulators, ANSPs and technology providers are working to enable safe integration of uncrewed aircraft into shared airspace. This is only part of the story. This award recognises projects that enable services within the lower airspace economy. Successful services are the cornerstone for revenue growth in this category and a scalable airspace ecosystem.
5
People, Skills & Next-Gen Technology
This award celebrates projects/companies who have developed programmes to support the workforce of tomorrow. This begins with attracting and developing the required talent. How do we bring more/different skills into our industry and embrace people with different backgrounds and perspectives. How do we make aviation attractive to a younger workforce? This is only the first step, next-generation technology then needs to support our workforce. How is technology being used to ensure a successful result once the workforce is onboard?
6
Defence & Military
This award recognises a member of the CANSO community who has gone above and beyond to raise the bar in air traffic management. Through the standard awards entry portal an individual you believe should be recognised for their achievements during the calendar year can be nominated. Nominees need to be from CANSO member organisations.
7
CANSO person of the year
This award recognises a member of the CANSO community who has gone above and beyond to raise the bar in air traffic management. Through the standard awards entry portal an individual you believe should be recognised for their achievements during the calendar year can be nominated. Nominees need to be from CANSO member organisations.
Organised By
Global Airspace Radar
Global Airspace Radar, the single source of information for airspace management stakeholders, is brought to you by our team, which has direct industry experience. Building on the combined experience of 80 years in the airspace industry and over 10 years of publishing, our team provides insights, analysis and opinions across the entire airspace management value chain, going beyond the obvious.
Unmanned Airspace and Urban Air Mobility News
Unmanned Airspace and Urban Air Mobility News is published and edited by Philip Butterworth-Hayes.
Philip Butterworth-Hayes is a consultant and writer specialising in air traffic management, aviation safety, military and civil aviation issues.
CANSO
CANSO is the global voice of the air traffic management industry. As the industry association, we bring the world’s air navigation service providers, leading industry innovators and air traffic management specialists together to share knowledge, develop best practices and shape the future for secure and seamless airspace. Together we are experts, we are innovators and we are the architects of future ATM.