Summary of capacity performance
Poland experienced an increase in traffic from 377k flights in 2020 to 473k flights in 2021. However, traffic levels were still substantially below the 912k flights in 2019.
In 2021, Poland had 32k minutes of ATFM delay - with more than 90% attributed to ATC staffing. The vast majority of ATFM delays (29k) occurred in December 2021.
NSA’s assessment of capacity performance
Actual annual performance recorded in 2021 was in line with the target set for Poland in the revised RP3 performance plan. The target set for 2021 already took into account lower traffic levels following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The delays recorded in 2021 were determined mostly by two factors: ATC Staffing and ATC Capacity. 2% of the delays were attributable to weather conditions. Majority of the delays was generated in December 2021 and was related to staffing issues at ACC Warszawa.
The traffic reduction related to COVID-19 pandemic and actions undertaken by PANSA to mitigate risks related to possible infection spread among employees as well as flexible roster planning responding to expected traffic evolution under the rolling NOP planning allowed for achieving very low value of delays in the period January-November 2021 an in consequence to achieve the goal set for the year.
Monitoring process for capacity performance
The monitoring process in 2021 was conducted in accordance with Regulations (EU) 2019/317 and 2017/373 based on the information received from ANSPs. The data included ANSP’s business and annual plans and their consistency with the PP.
Despite the fact that the monitoring process was affected by COVID-19 pandemic, the monitoring activities of KPA CAPACITY were conducted systematically and covered, among the others, the following areas:
- implementation of major projects aimed at increasing capacity and enhancing flight efficiency,
- execution of employment plan, especially operational personnel,
- execution of training plan,
- ATCO productivity.
The scope of the selected areas was chosen taking into account airspace users’ remarks, as well as CAA own assessment. All the above supervision exercise was providing the CAA the awareness and knowledge on the ANSPs Performance.
The monitoring was performed also by dedicated Polish NSA inspectors during routine inspections.
Capacity planning
Due to COVID-19 pandemic and related traffic drop, 2021 was (similarly as 2020) quite exceptional - also in terms of capacity planning. Capacity planning focused on mid and long-term planning based on STATFOR forecasts, NM data, PANSA simulations and internal recovery plan prepared by PANSA as well as short term planning (up to 4-6 weeks) under the NOP rolling planning initiative coordinated by the Network Manager. Rostering at PANSA also had to consider implementation of measures aimed at limiting the risk of virus spread among ATCOs.
Despite the traffic drop and along with the above mentioned flexible rolling short-term capacity planning, PANSA continued to implement initiatives aimed at improving capacity in FIR Warszawa to meet challenges related to traffic increase after the crisis as well as potential changes in traffic flows. These included the following:
- continuation of new ATCOs training (continued training process for trainees employed before the pandemic breakout, while plans for additional recruitments to start 2020+ were suspended/revised, considering lower traffic levels expected by end of RP3 as well as difficulties related to training caused by low levels of traffic and COVID restrictions; new recruitment process for ATCO trainees started in January 2022),
- continued adaptation of the air traffic management system (Pegasus_21) to operational needs and modernisation of the ATM system,
- development of tools supporting ATCOs and flow management optimisation (including Traffic Complexity Tool and update of CAT system – implementation of CAT 3.0),
- continued investments in infrastructure (CNS) and technology allowing for optimisation of airspace structures and optimisation of coverage in the Polish airspace as well as supporting contingency,
- continued improvement of AMAN in Warsaw TMA,
- reorganisation of Warsaw TMA and Poznań TMA.
Plans for the following years of RP3 include, among others:
- reorganisation of ACC Warszawa sector configuration - three layer vertical division - to be implemented under staged approach (planned implementation postponed – new date to be decided),
- reorganisation of TMA Kraków in 2022 – new sectors, new SID/STAR procedures,
- continuation of training process for new ATCOs (new recruitment started 2022),
- refreshment training for current ATCOs to maintain their competence following the 2020-2021 significant traffic drop,
- adaptation of the air traffic management system to operational needs and modernisation of the ATM System,
- continued investments in infrastructure (CNS) and technology allowing for optimisation of airspace structures and optimisation of coverage in the Polish airspace as well as supporting resilience, scalability and flexibility of service provision,
- continuation of flexible rostering,
- evolving ACC sector configurations and management to cope with updated traffic forecasts,
- continued FMP dynamic management and ATFCM techniques including STAM,
- improvement of comprehensive airspace management.
Application of Corrective Measures for Capacity (if applicable)
There are two streams of risks which are expected to impact delays level in 2022:
- Risks linked to War in Ukraine – possible increase in delays due to military activities, also liked to increased number of NATO flights in eastern part of the Polish airspace. Significant portion of this part of airspace is reserved for military flights (performed H24) thus unavailable for civil traffic.
- Risks linked to staffing issues in ACC and APP Warszawa.
Depending on further evolution of the military conflict and situation related to ATCOs in PANSA, the impact may be also visible in 2023-2024 results.
On the risk related to impact of war in Ukraine, PANSA implemented RAD measures and EU Restrictions that were aimed to reduce ATFCM delays within EPWW FIR sectors with limited capacity due to additional military activity.
On the risk related to ATCOs, PANSA Management is running intensive negotiation process with the ATCO Trade Union.