Malta is among several EU member states that may not meet the requirements of new European legislation aimed at improving air traffic across the bloc.

A study assessing member states’ preparedness to come in line with the so-called Single European Sky shows the majority, including Malta, are still way off the mark.

“There is a serious risk that critical elements of the plan will not be delivered on time,” EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said.

“There is a genuine risk we will lag behind and find ourselves unable to satisfy the rising demands of air travel, which are set to nearly double by 2030,” he warned.

Malta’s plan only “partially” meets the requirements and the island has fallen back on one of the key targets in particular: a reduction in air traffic management costs.

Just five member states – Belgium, Denmark, Lithuania, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – are on track to meet the targets over the next two years.

The European Commission has asked them to revise their plans and warned they will be forced to do so if they do not make the necessary corrections voluntarily.

Through its Single European Sky legislation, agreed in 2004 and revised in 2009, the EU is aiming to achieve more cost efficiency in air navigation service, improve capacity and cut delays.

The findings also show member states are failing on the creation of functional airspace blocks, which are supposed to be operational by the end of 2012 and will revolutionise air traffic management.

The idea is to divide European airspace in terms of traffic flows rather than land borders. Malta’s “Bluemed” bloc is to be managed together with Cyprus, Greece and Italy.

The present fragmented system in air traffic management is having a detrimental effect on airlines, their passengers and the environment in terms of time, fuel and money, the Commission says.