Summary of capacity performance
Belgium & Luxembourg achieved the required en route capacity performance in 2022. There were 1 038k flights handled in the airspace of Belgium and Luxembourg (both Brussels ACC and the Brussels sectors in MUAC). There were 131k minutes of en route ATFM delay attributed to ANSPs in Belgium and Luxembourg airspace.
NSA’s assessment of capacity performance
Both en route and Terminal capacity targets were achieved.
Monitoring process for capacity performance
For skeyes, capacity monitoring is executed via the process as described in the manual of the NSA. Relevant data are collected from skyes, FABEC and other entities (Eurocontrol dashboard). If occuring delays a justification can be requested from skeyes, with potential corrective action request afterwards.
MUAC reports its en-route capacity performance to the states through the MUAC Finance and Performance committee. The performance data is also monitored on a monthly basis through the AFG/PMG (ANSP FABEC Group / Performance Management Group) capacity report. This report is based on MUAC data and available PRU data, which is consolidated and analysed and the results compared to the reference and indicative values.
Even though the FABEC states now have national performance plans, the monitoring for en-route capacity performance is carried out under the auspices of the FABEC Financial and Performance Committee (FPC), counterpart of the European Commission at the States side, consulting and reporting to FABEC Council as appropriate.
On a monthly basis and through the AFG/PMG (ANSP FABEC Group / Performance Management Group) the ANSPs collectively submit a report to the FPC, based on PRU available data, consolidated and analysed, on their joint progress in achieving the FABEC target set and reference or indicative values and on the results and analysis of the en- route capacity achievement.
In case the target set and/or the annual/reference values are threatened not to be met, AFG/PMG is asked to propose to FPC possible corrective measures which the ANSPs determine fit to react to the weaker performance at FAB, national and/or ACC level, in order to remedy the situation.
The FPC analyses the reports, assesses the actions considered by the ANSPs together with the necessity of appropriate measures to be taken by the States or the NSAs and makes an advice to the proposals, made by the AFG/PMG, to the FABEC Council for such appropriate measures, after consultation with the AFG/PMG. The potential corrective measures take into account the seriousness of the risk of not meeting the targets set and/or the annual/reference values.
This monitoring process is described in the FABEC FPC States Performance Process description, which is regularly updated.
Capacity planning
Initial Network Operation Plan 2020 launched in Winter 2019/2020 has been overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive drop of traffic.
A new NOP Recovery Plan process initiated and launched by the Network Manager and its first edition was published on 30 April 2020, as European traffic began a slow recovery from its lowest point of just 2,099 flights across the network on 12 April 2020.
Since then a weekly Rolling NOP, published every Friday has been introduced through which NM coordinates with all partners to ensure capacity is available at ACCs and in the airspace they manage, and on the ground at airports, to meet the expected traffic demand from the airlines on each day of the next six weeks enabling to coordinate all operational stakeholders throughout the pandemic to ensure that network actors can plan their recovery effectively based on predicted traffic levels.
Application of Corrective Measures for Capacity (if applicable)
skeyes: Brussels ACC has a capacity gap in 2023 and 2024. In the LSSIP 2022, skeyes developed various initiatives to fill the gap :
- recruitment of new ATCO at the maximum training capacity
- TCAST in 2023
- segregation of traffic flows between EBBR (Brussels) and EBCI (Charleroi)
- upgrade of ATM system
The NSA considers that the actions taken will be sufficient to remedy the situation.