Flights at Risk: Romanian Air Traffic Control Caught in €648M Pfizer-Romania Legal Dispute

Romania's air navigation services provider ROMATSA has confirmed that certain funds allocated to it through the Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation's (EUROCONTROL) route charging system have been temporarily blocked as part of enforcement proceedings initiated by Pfizer Romania SRL against Romania.

The total claim amounts to more than RON 3.4 billion (approximately €648 million) plus €18.5 million in legal and execution recovery costs. The Polish Air Navigation Services Agency is facing a similar situation, with EUROCONTROL informing it that funds due to it from airline fees were seized in connection with the controversial ruling.

Route charges are used for "essential air navigation services, including air traffic control infrastructure, trained air traffic controllers, and communication systems across European airspace.", according to EUROCONTROL. They are collected from aircraft operators by the Central Route Charges Office (CRCO) and "disbursed directly to national air navigation service providers and member states."

"At the Moment, Air Operations Are Normal" 

ROMATSA emphasized that it is not a direct part of the litigation and that, for the time being, air traffic operations had not been affected.

• Under the enforcement procedure, Pfizer targeted funds that were on their way to Romania. Because EUROCONTROL was holding or processing those payments, it was required to temporarily block them under the legal order.

"At the moment, the air navigation services provided by ROMATSA are operated under normal conditions, without any impact on the safety, continuity or quality of air traffic services," the operator said.

ROMATSA has retained Belgian legal counsel and is coordinating with Romania's Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance while preparing discussions with CRCO.

The Romanian company has also warned that its current financial resources could support operations for a limited period, describing its operating horizon as "measurable in weeks, not months" if the issue remains unresolved.

This is the third time ROMATSA has been affected by the EUROCONTROL collection mechanism.

One Hit After the Other 

The financial concerns come just months after another legal challenge involving the organization. In February 2026, the Bucharest Court of Appeal suspended ROMATSA's air navigation service provider certificate for 30 days following a lawsuit filed by 12 air traffic controllers alleging employment discrimination. The decision was not final or enforceable.

At the time, Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense warned that any interruption of ROMATSA's activity could create a major vulnerability for national security, affecting airspace surveillance and potentially disrupting NATO missions.

Despite the ongoing legal and financial challenges, ROMATSA insists that Romanian airspace remains fully operational and that no flights have been affected. 

Today, July 15, marks the end of the 15-day procedural period outlined in EUROCONTROL's notification.