The need for new directions in airspace economics: Seventy years after Chicago

• The paper explains reasons for new directions in airspace economic research which are seen in structural and regulatory issues.
• Alternatives of structural reform of ANS among integrating countries are identified and discussed.
• The review of existing research outputs devoted to airspace economic issues is summarized.
• Absence of network (multi-country) approach as well as dominance of ownership issues in the existing research outputs are identified.

The paper outlines perspective fields in airspace economics based on the review of current economic research regarding however a new situational context in which air navigation service providers make their business. According to the findings, airspace economic research is obliged to incorporate more topics (mainly structural and regulatory ones) reflecting a trend towards new industrial structures observed in some countries and also within integrating economies, particularly in the EU. Alternatives of structural reform in the provision of air navigation services among integrating economies are identified here using two-countries case to underline urgent need for new directions of research in airspace economics.