Capacity - Denmark

PRB monitoring

▪ Denmark registered zero minutes of average en route ATFM delay per flight during 2022, thus achieving the local target value of 0.06.

▪ The average number of IFR movements was 25% below 2019 levels in Denmark in 2022.

▪ The number of ATCOs in OPS is planned to decrease by 12% in Copenhagen ACC by the end of RP3. The actual number in 2022 was above the plan due to a higher trainee pass ratio and additional ATCO resources from the military.

▪ The share of delayed flights with delays longer than 15 minutes in Denmark increased by 22.54 p.p. compared to 2021 and was higher than 2019 values.

▪ The yearly total of sector opening hours in Copenhagen ACC was 44,669 in 2022, showing no significant change compared to 2021. Sector opening hours are 0.1% below 2019 levels.

▪ Copenhagen ACC registered 9.84 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2022, being 23.8% below 2019 levels.

En route performance

En route ATFM delay (KPI#1)

Summary of capacity performance

Denmark experienced an increase in traffic from 300k flights in 2021, to 505k flights in 2022, with almost zero ATFM in both years. However, traffic levels were still substantially below the 669k flights in 2019.

NSA’s assessment of capacity performance

The last covid-19 restrictions were lifted in the early part of 2022 which fueled a significant demand for leisure airtravel over the summer, inspite of rising inflation, higher energy prices and uncertaincy about the future.

The demand for leisure travel continued to be strong thoughout the year as recession fears receded due to energy prices and inflation beginning to come down again. The somewhat unexpected strong rebound in airtraffic in 2022 lead to some capacity issues in airports and air traffic services. This has continued into 2023.

The capacity target has been met.

Monitoring process for capacity performance

Capacity planning

Application of Corrective Measures for Capacity (if applicable)

No corrective measures were required to date. When planning ahead the NSA sees no significant risk, however there are capacity constraints at the ANSP due to lack of ATCO resources despite the higher intake as described above. NSA is in dialogue with the ANSP to ensure the best possible capacity in the years ahead.

Other indicators

Higher trainee pass-ratio and additional ATCO resources from Military than planned

Terminal performance

Arrival ATFM delay (KPI#2)

Denmark only has Copenhagen/Kastrup (EKCH) airport subject to RP3 monitoring for which the APDF is successfully established and the monitoring of the capacity indicators can be performed.
Traffic at this airport in 2022 is still 23% lower than in 2019, even if 84% higher than in 2021.
Average arrival ATFM delay in 2022 was 0.02 min/arr, same as in 2021.
ATFM slot adherence remained very high (2022: 98.9%; 2021: 99.2%).

Copenhagen, that in the last years had registered low delays, observed nearly zero delays in 2021 and 2022 (EKCH; 2019: 0.07 min/arr.; 2020: 0 min/arr; 2021: 0.02 min/arr.; 2022: 0.02 min/arr.)
All regulations were attributed to Aerodrome Capacity issues and concentrated mostly in September.

According to the Danish monitoring report: There are capacity constraints at the TWR/APP unit in EKCH due to lack of ATCO resources, which as per today is expected to mean that the targets for 2023 will not be met. NSA is following up on the measures taken by the ANSP to ensure higher capacity in the years to come. The ANSP has moved ATCO resources from another unit to EKCH and the NSA is looking into different possibilities to facilitate higher mobility of ATCO’s e.g. in relation to language barriers.
3. Arrival ATFM Delay – National TargetThe national target on arrival ATFM delay in 2022 was met.

Copenhagen’s ATFM slot compliance in 2022 was 98.9%, a slight decrease but still outstanding performance. With regard to the 1.1% of flights that did not adhere, 1% was early and 0.1% was late.

According to the Danish monitoring report: Performance is stable. NSA monitors the performance via monthly reports from the ANSP, and yearly evaluation.

Other terminal performance indicators (PI#1-3)

Airport level
Airport name
Avg arrival ATFM delay (KPI#2)
Slot adherence (PI#1)
ATC pre departure delay (PI#2)
All causes pre departure delay (PI#3)
2020 2021 2022 2023 2020 2021 2022 2023 2020 2021 2022 2023 2020 2021 2022 2023
Copenhagen NA 0.02 0.02 NA 98.7% 99.2% 98.9% NA% 0.02 0.13 0.04 NA 6.8 9.6 14.9 NA

ATFM slot adherence

ATC pre-departure delay at Copenhagen (EKCH: 2021: 0.13 min/dep; 2022: 0.04 min/dep) has decreased in 2022 and it is also below the pre-pandemic value (0.09 min/dep)

ATC pre-departure delay

The total (all causes) delay in the actual off block time at Copenhagen increased significantly in 2022 (EKCH: 2020: 6.79 min/dep.; 2021: 9.63 min/dep.; 2022: 14.9 min/dep.). The highest delays per flight were observed in June-July and December.

All causes pre-departure delay

No data available: airport operator data flow not established, or more than two months of missing / non-validated data