Skeyes

What Skeyes does

Skeyes is the autonomous public air navigation service provider for Belgium and a portion of Luxembourg, established by Belgian law on March 21st, 1991. The company is state-owned with no parent corporation, venture, or private-equity participation, and employs ~900 specialist staff headquartered operationally in Steenokkerzeel with a registered office in Brussels. Its statutory mandate is to guarantee the safety and efficiency of air traffic in Belgian civil airspace, and it manages over 3,000 aircraft daily across more than 1,000,000 flight movements per year at six Belgian airports (Brussels, Antwerp, Charleroi, Liège, Kortrijk, Ostend), positioning it inside one of Europe's busiest and most complex airspace sections.

The company's product portfolio is built around the Eurocat air traffic control system and the CANAC 2 control centre in Steenokkerzeel, which since December 2019 also hosts the Belgian Defence Air Traffic Control Centre, enabling fully co-located civil-military operations targeting full controller integration by 2030. Supporting services include the AIM-Meteo Briefing online platform (pilots, handlers, balloonists), the Digital Tower (DiTo) remote ATC programme — with camera masts at Liège and Charleroi and a remote operating centre under construction in Namur scheduled for end-2026 — and the drone ecosystem built around the wholly-owned subsidiary SkeyDrone (DAA Planner/Fly tools, Droneguide, Europe's first CISP-certified platform for manned/unmanned data exchange). Other services comprise Urbanism assessments (e.g., €900 wind-turbine opinions), Engineering CNS/ATM infrastructure, SPACC special-activity coordination, and Meteorology/Climatology data.

Skeyes operates a hybrid revenue model combining user charges paid by airlines and airports with Belgian federal government subsidies, formalised through a Royal Decree setting the 2026 funding framework at €34.5M for air navigation services plus €1.2M for environmental measures. The company is a member of FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central), a six-country airspace block handling ~55% of European air traffic. In 2025 skeyes achieved multiple regulatory milestones: CANSO GreenATM Level 4 (highest sector sustainability level), Belgian Civil Aviation Authority CISP certification (first in Europe), and concluded partnerships with VIVES University (academic ATC training), the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (North Sea drone deployment), and the Brussels Capital-Ixelles Police Zone (drone-in-a-box public safety operations).

Name

Skeyes

Legal name

skeyes

Website

https://skeyes.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Skeyes is Belgium's autonomous public air navigation service provider, managing safe and efficient air traffic across Belgian and part-Luxembourg airspace at six airports, with ~900 staff and recent expansion into drone integration via its CISP-certified platform and SkeyDrone subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Air Navigation Services Funding: Hybrid funding model combining user charges from airlines/airports and federal government subsidies. Belgian Council of Ministers adopted Royal Decree establishing 2026 funding framework of €34.5 million total
2. Brussels Airport Airline Charges: Brussels Airport airline charges maintained at 2025 levels; regional airport costs fully covered by government subsidies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Skeyes is the autonomous public company responsible for the safety of air traffic in Belgian civil airspace. It delivers air navigation services through physical control tower infrastructure at Brussels and five regional airports, the CANAC 2 en-route control centre, the Digital Tower (DiTo) remote management platform, and online platforms (AIM-Meteo Briefing, DAA, Droneguide). The company manages over 3,000 aircraft daily and provides drone integration, meteorological, urbanism assessment, and engineering services to the aviation sector.

Product overview

Skeyes is Belgium's autonomous public air navigation service provider offering a comprehensive suite of aviation services centered around Air Traffic Management (ATM). The core portfolio includes ATM services via the CANAC 2 control centre, the AIM-Meteo Briefing platform for aeronautical and meteorological information, and the Digital Tower (DiTo) remote control system. The company operates at the heart of European airspace managing over 3,000 aircraft daily. Skeyes has developed significant drone-related capabilities through its subsidiary SkeyDrone, including the Drones & Aerial Activities (DAA) tool for drone flight authorization, the Droneguide mapping application, and is Europe's first certified Common Information Service Provider (CISP) enabling real-time data exchange between manned and unmanned aviation. Additional services include Urbanism assessments for construction near airports, SPACC coordination for special activities, Engineering services for CNS infrastructure, and Meteorology/Climatology services. The company achieved GreenATM Level 4 accreditation in 2025, setting a global benchmark for sustainable air navigation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SkeyDrone: Subsidiary providing drone traffic management, U-space services, and drone operations support. Developed Drones & Aerial Activities (DAA) application for flight authorization requests.
• Drones & Aerial Activities (DAA)
• Droneguide
• DAA Planner
• DAA Fly

Products and services

• Air Traffic Management (ATM) Complete suite of services ensuring the safety and efficiency of flights including air traffic control, flight information, and airspace design for civil and military aviation over Belgium and part of Luxembourg up to 7,500 metres altitude.
• AIM-Meteo Briefing Comprehensive platform providing pilots, handlers, and balloonists with accurate Aeronautical and Meteorological information for safe and efficient flight preparation, including access to AIP, Flight Planning, NOTAM briefing, and meteorological data for Belgium and Luxembourg.
• Drones & Aerial Activities (DAA) Web application for planning, coordination and information flow between drone operators/pilots and Air Traffic Control, including DAA Planner for pre-authorization and DAA Fly for tactical authorization on the day of operation, managing geozones around six Belgian airports.
• Urbanism Service Assessment service for construction projects including wind turbines, buildings, cranes, and temporary installations near airports, evaluating impact on PANS-OPS surfaces and electromagnetic systems for communication, navigation, and surveillance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 aircraft managed daily; over 1 million flight movements per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025MoU signed at Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre in Ostend for safe deployment and integration of drones over the North Sea. Aims to enhance situational awareness of MRCC and develop SAR drone capability. Cooperation initially for 3 years.
• VIVES University of Applied SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2025Launched professional training program for air traffic controller career via academic route. First such programme in Belgium; students undergo ATC basic/rating training at EPNB training centre at skeyes site in Steenokkerzeel.
• CitymeshminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 April 2025Provides drone-in-a-box systems and pilots for Brussels police force operations. With over 600 BVLOS flights for fire department, provides 'extra eyes in the sky' for emergency services under SkeyDrone's traffic management.
• Brussels Capital Ixelles Local Police ZoneminorOthers · 26 April 2025Local police zone received approval for deployment of three drone-in-a-box systems in police operations. Skeyes facilitates airspace access and monitors safe operations as national airspace manager.
• SkeyDronecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025SkeyDrone is a subsidiary of skeyes and Brussels Airport. It plays a crucial role in U-space implementation in Belgium, developing drone traffic management software and acting as U-space service provider for safe drone operations in Belgian airspace.
• Living TomorrowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2025Living Tomorrow Innovation Campus in Vilvoorde serves as test environment for drone innovation. Skeyes collaborates on drone flight demonstrations in controlled airspace, including first drone flight with active deconfliction around Brussels Airport.
• SOWAER (Société Wallonne des Aéroports)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2023Joint partner in Digital Tower Project (DiTo) for Walloon airports. SOWAER, responsible for developing Walloon airports, and skeyes jointly building Belgium's first digital tower centre in Namur.
• Belgian Defence - Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2019Fifth anniversary of CIV-MIL cooperation project (December 2019). Civil and military ATC controllers share CANAC2 centre in Steenokkerzeel for more efficient, safe, sustainable use of Belgian airspace. Target of full integration by 2030 with shared pool of controllers.
• Entry Point North BelgiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2019Joint venture with skeyes providing intensive ATC training cooperation between military ATC School and civilian training programmes.
• FABEC (Functional Airspace Block Europe Central)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Skeyes is a member of FABEC, a joint airspace block covering Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. FABEC handles about 6 million flights per year (55% of European air traffic). The partnership aims to improve air navigation efficiency in the heart of Europe under the Single European Sky initiative.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• skyguide (Swiss air navigation services): Switzerland's non-profit ANSP — a FABEC partner operating alongside skeyes in densely-trafficked Central European airspace. Comparable in size, ANSP mission, and exposure to Alpine airspace complexity and FABEC/SESAR modernisation.
• MUAC (Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre): A cross-border ANSP jointly operated by Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France and Luxembourg — structurally the most direct counterfactual to a consolidated European ATC model. Highly relevant because MUAC represents the very consolidation scenario that could subsume skeyes' en-route operations.
• DSNA / DGAC (France civil aviation authority): France's ANSP, also a core FABEC member. Comparable to skeyes as a state-affiliated provider of tower, approach, and en-route ATC services, with similar civil-military integration challenges and shared Single European Sky reform exposure.
• LVNL (Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland): Netherlands' ANSP — a FABEC neighbour covering Schiphol and Dutch airspace. Directly comparable in scale and mission (monopoly tower/approach/en-route ATC) with shared DiTo-relevant complexity (high-density controlled airspace around a major hub).
• DFS (Deutsche Flugsicherung): Germany's ANSP — a fellow FABEC member covering the largest airspace in Europe. Directly comparable as a state-owned ANSP operating complex en-route and tower operations, with shared FABEC interoperability obligations and similar CNS/ATM technology requirements.
• Austro Control: Austrian ANSP operating in similarly constrained Alpine airspace as part of FABEC. Comparable as a small-state, state-owned ANSP with similar civil-military integration considerations and dependence on inter-ANSP coordination.
• NATS (UK air navigation service provider): UK's primary ANSP providing air traffic control and air navigation services across UK airspace and eastern Atlantic. Directly comparable as a national monopolistic, state-influenced ANSP operating in similarly dense FABEC-adjacent airspace and serving commercial aviation.
• Naviair (Danish ANSP): Denmark's state-owned ANSP — comparable as a regional European ANSP managing both high-density controlled airspace (Copenhagen) and lower-density FIR areas, facing similar digital tower and U-space modernisation paths as skeyes.

Broad incumbents

• Eurocontrol: European intergovernmental organisation coordinating ATC across 41 member states. Comparable to skeyes as the supranational anchor of the European ATC ecosystem — operating the CFMU network, charging structures, and strategic Single European Sky agenda that shape skeyes' regulatory environment.

Emerging players

• Altitude Angel: UK-based U-space / UTM platform provider enabling drone traffic management at scale. Comparable to SkeyDrone (skeyes' drone subsidiary) as a U-space service provider competing for the same drone-integration mandate in European controlled airspace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/skeyesBE_en
• Facebookfacebook.com/skeyesBelgium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skeyes
• Instagraminstagram.com/explore/locations/613038727/skeyes_belgium/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Skeyes