Annual Monitoring Report 2021 - Belgium
Contextual information
National performance plan adopted following Commission Decision (EU) 2024/350 of 13 December 2023
List of ACCs 1
Brussels ACC
No of airports in the scope of the performance plan
≥80’K 1
<80’K 0
Exchange rate (1 EUR=)
2017: 1 EUR
2021: 1 EUR
Share of Union-wide traffic (TSUs) 2021 1.7%
Share of Union-wide en route costs 2021 3.6%
Share en route / terminal costs 2021 87% / 13%
En route charging zone(s)
Belgium-Luxembourg
Terminal charging zone(s)
Belgium
Main ANSP
• skeyes
Other ANSPs
• MUAC
MET Providers
–
Traffic (En route traffic zone)
▪ The en route charging zone of Belgium-Luxembourg recorded 639K actual IFR movements in 2021, +18% compared to 2020 (541K).
▪ Actual 2021 IFR movements represent 51% of the actual 2019 level (1,249K).
▪ The en route charging zone of Belgium-Luxembourg recorded 1,167K actual en route service units in 2021, +8.0% compared to 2020 (1,081K).
▪ Actual 2021 service units represent 45% of the actual 2019 level (2,620K).
Safety (Main ANSP)
▪ Skeyes did not achieve the targets on three management objectives in 2021, but the Safety Development Plan is established with measures and corrective actions to ensure required RP3 target levels will be met in 2024.
▪ As a part of the Belgian Plan for Aviation Safety, the NSA permanently monitors the separation minima infringements and runway incursions, conducts associated investigations and implements specific safety recommendations’ actions.
▪ Skeyes should improve its safety management by implementing automated safety data recording systems.
Environment (Member State)
▪ Belgium achieved a KEA performance of 3.55% compared to its target of 3.10% and did not contribute positively to the Union-wide target. KEA performance deteriorated by 0.18 percentage points in comparison to 2020.
▪ Traffic levels fluctuated in 2021, with a sharp increase in May/June, which had an impact on KEA performance. However, higher traffic levels were managed with similar KEA performance throughout 2017-2019.
▪ Both KEP and SCR slightly deteriorated in comparison to 2020.
▪ The share of flights operating CDO in 2021 remained similar to 2020 levels.
▪ The additional time airspace users spent in terminal airspace improved by 47% in comparison to 2019. Additional taxi time slightly improved as well.
Capacity (Member State)
▪ Belgium registered 0.01 minutes of average en route ATFM delay per flight during 2021, thus meeting the local breakdown value of 0.07.
▪ Delays should be considered in the context of lower traffic: in Belgium, IFR movements in 2021 were 49% lower than in 2019.
▪ Traffic is expected to grow with 2019 levels likely being reached in 2023 (in high growth scenario). An increase in the number of ATCOs in OPS is planned during RP3 in Brussels ACC.
▪ Delays were highest in August, October and November, mostly driven by ATC Capacity and Staffing issues.
▪ The share of delayed flights with delays longer than 15 minutes in Belgium increased by 1.73 percentage points compared to 2020 and was lower than 2019 values.
▪ The yearly total of sector opening hours in Brussels ACC was 28,453, showing a 1.0% decrease compared to 2020. Sector opening hours are 2.3% below 2019 levels.
▪ Brussels ACC registered 12.26 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2021, being 43.8% below 2019 levels.
Cost-efficiency (En route/Terminal charging zone(s))
▪ The en route 2020/2021 actual unit cost of Belgium-Luxembourg was 183.46€2017, -3.0% lower than the determined unit cost (189.52€2017).
▪ The terminal actual unit cost of Belgium was 385.89€2017, -3.1% lower than the determined unit cost (398.33€2017).
▪ The en route 2021 actual service units (1,167K) were in line with the determined service units (1,161K).
▪ The en route 2021 actual total costs were -12M€2017 (-5.5%) lower than determined, mainly due to lower other operating costs (-8.1M€2017, or -15%) and lower staff costs (-3.1M€2017, or -2.1%). The NSA did not provide explanations for the variations of costs.
▪ Skeyes spent 13.0M€2017 in 2021 related to costs of investments, -3.0% less than determined (13.4M€2017), due to both lower depreciation and cost of capital stemming from a lower net book value. The NSA explained that there have been changes in the planned schedule of some investments.
▪ The en route actual unit cost incurred by users of Belgium-Luxembourg in 2020/2021 was 195.76€, while the terminal actual unit cost incurred by users was 324.46€ for Belgium and 303.05€ for Luxembourg.