The 2026 meeting of the CANSO Global Benchmarking Working Group (GBWG) began today in Istanbul, hosted by the Directorate General of State Airports Authority (DHMI).

The meeting, which will take place from April 14 to 16, 2026, examines the operational and financial performance of Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) worldwide.

This working group, a critical technical platform where global aviation standards and efficiency parameters are determined, brings together senior representatives of 13 different ANSPs and international stakeholders operating on an intercontinental scale, including leading organizations from Europe as well as NAV CANADA, ATNS (South Africa), SANS (Saudi Arabia), and Gulf countries. Approximately 33 delegates are attending the meeting in person, while 6 ANSP representatives are joining the sessions online due to regional developments.

In his opening remarks, DHMI Deputy General Manager Dr. Cengiz Paşaoğlu emphasized DHMI’s strategic role in the global aviation ecosystem. In his assessment during the opening session, Paşaoğlu drew attention to the importance of DHMI’s international cooperation and its effectiveness in global decision-making mechanisms.

Türkiye’s Performance and Digitalization Vision on the Agenda

Within the scope of the three-day intensive program, air navigation performance management, cost benchmarking, and operational data integration will be discussed.

Following the opening session, a presentation by our organization conveyed to the international delegation Türkiye’s rise in air navigation performance, strategic investment goals, and digitalization vision.

The core parameters of the “Global Air Navigation Performance Report” (GBR), prepared by CANSO and of major global significance, will be shaped at this meeting. Türkiye’s strategic position in these reports will be discussed directly with the participating ANSPs.

Technical Inspection Tours to Be Organized

Following the closing of the meeting, as part of the traditional technical inspection tours, the guest delegations will visit the Atatürk Airport Approach Control Unit and Istanbul Airport Control Tower. These tours aim to provide an on-site presentation of the technological level and operational capabilities achieved by Turkish civil aviation.