Summary of capacity performance
Latvia experienced an increase in traffic, from 186k flights in 2022 with zero delay, to 196k flights in 2023, also with zero ATFM delays. Traffic levels are still much lower than the 2019 levels of 295k flights.
NSA’s assessment of capacity performance
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2022, continued to exert substantial influence on air traffic patterns and volumes in 2023. The sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) against Russia, along with reciprocal sanctions by Russia, led to a dramatic shift in traffic flows. Specifically, flights between Europe and Russia remained suspended, and routes to and from China and Southeast Asia were significantly reduced. Sanctions forced Russian operators to navigate around EU airspace, leading to increased traffic over international waters in the Baltic Sea to connect Kaliningrad with mainland Russia. Being a NATO state, which directly borders Russian Federation, the complexity of airspace has gone up. More military zones are being set up.
There were no capacity problems in Riga FIR and no capacity problems in an any of the aerodromes in 2023.
Monitoring process for capacity performance
Monitoring through annual inspections and safety meetings with the ANSP.
Capacity planning
Capacity planning is appropriate for the required performance. No ATFM delays were observed.
Application of Corrective Measures for Capacity (if applicable)
Due to staff shortage under specific circumstances there is a possibility that capacity could be impacted. Results of the ATCO fatigue risk and stress assessment revealed the necessary changes that must implemented by the ANSP - mainly- to ensure sufficient ATCO staffing numbers (increase of ATCOs), and to ensure appropriate rostering system implementation beyond excell sheet in order to comply with EU reg 2017/373 requirements for Fatigue Risk and Stress Management (FRSM).
The NSA intends to monitor the situation, to ensure proper application of the EU Reg 2017/373 requirements for FRMS.
Additional Information Related to Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine
The changes of traffic flows in Riga FIR were material. EU and RU banned one another’s airspace users on entering the airspace. That lead to decline in flights to East Asia. Basically the Europe - Russian flight segment (a quarter of all flights prior to crisis) was fully wiped out. On the other hand Riga FIR now handles all the traffic to Kaliningrad exclave. This negatively impacts Environment Key Performance indicator. Latvia gained some extra traffic on north - south axis due to previously mentioned bans on use of airspaces. Bordering Russia and being both EU and NATO member state, Latvia experiences more traffic complexity due to more military restriction zones. All of the above does not directly effect the capacity performance expressed as ATFM delay KPI, however it adds complexity, volatility and uncertainty, especially financially (inability to pay by RU operators, volatility of traffic and decrease of average SU per flight).
To mitigate any possible impacts on en route capacity performance, due to higher than expected decline in number of ATCOs, ANSP is now training new ATCOs to replenish their amount to normal operational level of 62 ATCOs.
En route Capacity Incentive Scheme
LGS: The incentive scheme is under review by the European Commission.
In accordance with Article 3(3)(a) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1627: The incentive scheme shall cover only the calendar years 2022 to 2024.