Annual Monitoring Report 2021 - Germany
Contextual information
National performance plan adopted following Commission Decision (EU) 2023/177 of 14 December 2022
List of ACCs 4
Bremen ACC
Langen ACC
Karlsruhe UAC
Munich ACC
No of airports in the scope of the performance plan
≥80’K 7
<80’K 8
Exchange rate (1 EUR=)
2017: 1 EUR
2021: 1 EUR
Share of Union-wide traffic (TSUs) 2021 11.5%
Share of Union-wide en route costs 2021 15.1%
Share en route / terminal costs 2021 76% / 24%
En route charging zone(s)
Germany
Terminal charging zone(s)
Germany
Main ANSP
• DFS
Other ANSPs
• MUAC
MET Providers
• Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD)
Traffic (En route traffic zone)
▪ Germany recorded 1,712K actual IFR movements in 2021, +16% compared to 2020 (1,479K).
▪ Actual 2021 IFR movements were +4.2% above the plan (1,642K).
▪ Actual 2021 IFR movements represent 50% of the actual 2019 level (3,394K).
▪ Germany recorded 7,679K actual en route service units in 2021, +13% compared to 2020 (6,792K).
▪ Actual 2021 service units were +1.5% above the plan (7,563K).
▪ Actual 2021 service units represent 51% of the actual 2019 level (15,132K).
Safety (Main ANSP)
▪ DFS has successfully improved its performance in safety risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion and achieved all the EoSM targets earlier than planned. DFS implements specific measures to ensure continuous improvement of safety performance.
▪ Germany reported a decrease in the rate of both runway incursions and separation minima infringements in 2021 relative to 2020. Both rates are below the Union-wide rates.
▪ The German NSA aims to improve the monitoring of safety occurrences. Therefore, a procedure was implemented based on regular reviews and in-depth auditing of specific cases.
▪ DFS should improve its safety management by implementing automated safety data recording systems.
Environment (Member State)
▪ KEA performance improved from 2020 and Germany achieved the target of 2.31% and contributed positively to achieving the Union-wide target.
▪ Both KEP and SCR values improved from 2020 and are at their best since 2017.
▪ The share of CDO flights dropped by three p.p., remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels.
▪ Additional time in terminal airspace remained at similar level to 2020 while additional taxi out time increased from 1.63 min/flight to 1.85 min/flight.
▪ The NSA states it is continuously developing airport-CDM at German airports in order to reduce taxi times at airports, including a long-term perspective on a total airport management system.
Capacity (Member State)
▪ Germany registered 0.22 minutes of average en route ATFM delay per flight during 2021, thus missing the local breakdown value of 0.18.
▪ Delays were higher than the breakdown value despite the lower traffic: In Germany, IFR movements in 2021 were 50% lower than in 2019.
▪ The delays were mainly caused by limited ATC capacity, staffing and severe weather at Bremen and Karlsruhe ACCs with new traffic patterns, increased volatility contributing during the summer period in ACCs already affected by staffing issues. Specifically, during the traffic recovery in summer 2021, the main delay causes were ATC capacity and ATC staffing in Bremen ACC, and ATC capacity and weather in Karlsruhe ACC.
▪ Traffic is expected to grow, with 2019 levels likely being reached in 2023 (in high growth scenario) or 2024 (in base growth scenario). A significant increase in the number of ATCOs in OPS is planned during RP3 in Bremen and Karlsruhe ACCs with a smaller increase in Langen and Münich ACCs.
▪ Delays were highest between July and December, mostly driven by ATC Capacity and Staffing issues and adverse weather conditions.
▪ The share of delayed flights with delays longer than 15 minutes in Germany increased by 6.51 p.p. compared to 2020 and was lower than 2019 values.
▪ The yearly total of sector opening hours in Langen ACC was 94,626, showing a 20.4% decrease compared to 2020. Sector opening hours are 28.4% below 2019 levels. The yearly total of sector opening hours in Munich ACC was 52,942, showing a 24.3% decrease compared to 2020. Sector opening hours are 45.1% below 2019 levels. The yearly total of sector opening hours in Karlsruhe ACC was 100,596, showing a 14.8% increase compared to 2020. Sector opening hours are 30.6% below 2019 levels. The yearly total of sector opening hours in Bremen ACC was 76,548, showing a 1.8% decrease compared to 2020. Sector opening hours are 26.4% below 2019 levels.
▪ Langen ACC registered 7.41 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2021, being 26.3% below 2019 levels. Munich ACC registered 10.42 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2021, being 15.7% below 2019 levels. Karlsruhe ACC registered 10.22 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2021, being 19.2% below 2019 levels. Bremen ACC registered 3.92 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2021, being 37.9% below 2019 levels.
▪ Germany registered an average airport arrival ATFM delay of 0.28 minutes per flight in 2021, achieving the local target of 0.45 minutes.
▪ Compared to 2020, average arrival ATFM delays in Germany were 166.38% higher in 2021, while the number of IFR arrivals increased by 18.82%.
▪ The main reasons for delays were other, non-ATC related causes, accounting for 67% of delays, and weather, responsible for 30%.
Cost-efficiency (En route/Terminal charging zone(s))
▪ The en route 2020/2021 actual unit cost of Germany was 123.97 €2017, -4.2% lower than the determined unit cost (129.44 €2017). The terminal actual unit cost was 411.50 €2017, -2.7% lower than the determined unit cost (422.78 €2017).
▪ The en route 2021 actual service units (7,679K) were +1.5% higher than determined (7,563K).
▪ In 2021, actual total costs were -64 M€2017 lower (-6.9%) than determined. The reduction was mainly driven by -25 M€2017 (-3.8%) in staff costs, due to the continuation of 2020 measures in reaction to the decrease of traffic, and by -27 M€2017 (-132%) in cost of capital.
▪ DFS spent 82 M€2017 in 2021 related to costs of investments, -13% lower than determined (93 M€2017), mainly driven by a negative 2021 actual cost of capital, the NSA explained that it is stemming from a positive financial result (considering that Germany has no return on equity during RP3). Some investments have also been delayed.
▪ The en route actual unit cost incurred by users in 2020/2021 was 132.65€, while the terminal actual unit cost incurred by users was 436.34€.