Capacity - Switzerland

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PRB monitoring

▪ Switzerland registered 0.2 minutes of average en route ATFM delay per flight during 2023 which has been adjusted to 0.13 during the post-ops adjustment process, thus achieving the local target value of 0.19. Delays in Switzerland decreased by 0.08 minutes per flight year-on-year.

▪ Delays were highest between June and September, mostly driven by adverse weather conditions and ATC capacity.

▪ The share of delayed flights with delays longer than 15 minutes in Switzerland increased by 5 p.p. compared to 2022 and was higher than 2019 values.

▪ The average number of IFR movements was 8% below 2019 levels in Switzerland in 2023.

▪ The number of ATCOs in OPS is expected to increase by 2% by 2024, with the actual value being below the 2023 plan in Geneva by 9 FTEs. The number of ATCOs in OPS is expected to decrease by 10% by 2024, with the actual value being over the 2023 plan in Zurich by 13 FTEs.

▪ The yearly total of sector opening hours in Geneva ACC was 28,234, showing a 3.2% decrease compared to 2022. Sector opening hours are 12.6% below 2019 levels. The yearly total of sector opening hours in Zurich ACC was 32,064, showing a 0.5% increase compared to 2022. Sector opening hours are 9.6% above 2019 levels.

▪ Geneva ACC registered 20.99 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2023, being 0.5% below 2019 levels. Zurich ACC registered 23.72 IFR movements per one sector opening hour in 2023, being 2.3% above 2019 levels.

▪ Switzerland registered an average airport arrival ATFM delay of 1.50 minutes per flight in 2023, thus not achieving the local target of 1.28 minutes.

▪ Compared to 2022, average arrival ATFM delays in Switzerland were 103% higher in 2023, while the number of IFR arrivals increased by 12%.

▪ The main reasons for delays were weather, accounting for 65% of delays, and other, non-ATC related causes, responsible for 30%.

En route performance

En route ATFM delay (KPI#1)

Summary of capacity performance

Switzerland experienced an increase in traffic from 1 042k flights in 2022, with 242k minutes of en route ATFM delay, to 1 092k flights in 2023 with 155k minutes of en route ATFM delay.

There were an additional 15k minutes of delay originating in Switzerland that were re-attributed to DFS via the NM post operations delay attribution process, according to the NMB agreement for eNM/S23 measures, to ameliorate capacity shortfalls in Karlsruhe UAC.

NSA’s assessment of capacity performance

2023 en-route capacity target set in the Swiss National performance plan was met (total ATFM-Delay per flight : 0.13 min/fl., 0.06 min. below the target). The CRSTMP ATFM delay per flight target was achieved as well, so a bonus is applied in 2023 for the en-route part.

Monitoring process for capacity performance

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/PMWG (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 national target set and reference or indicative values and on the results and analysis of the en- route capacity achievement.

In case the national 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 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/PMWG, to the FABEC Council for such appropriate measures, after consultation with the AFG/PMWG. The potential corrective measures take into account the seriousness of the risk of not meeting the targets set and/or the annual/reference values.

The Swiss NSA has periodical meetings with its ANSPs. - The Swiss NSA is regularly provided with various reports, analysis and data such as FABEC monthly capacity reports (including Skyguide data), Skyguide reports, PRU dahboards which enable to closely monitor the performance evolution.

Capacity planning

In 2023, Skyguide achieved its en-route ATFM delay per flight target. Traffic increased by 12.7% in 2023 vs. 2022 whereas the en-route ATFM delay decreased by 51.4% compared to one year earlier. The post-ops adjustment process was applied and allowed for re-attributing 5098 minutes of CRSTMP delay to DFS and 10338 minutes of non-CRSTMP delay to DFS as well.

Application of Corrective Measures for Capacity (if applicable)



Information Relating to Significant Risks for Capacity Performance in Remainder of RP3

A resilience technical programme was launched at Skyguide end of 2022. It has been officially closed in 2024, however, certain corrective measures have not been implemented yet, and during the first semester of 2024, to support these measures, a uniform decrease of capacity was applied in both Geneva and Zurich ACC (-20%) leading to generate unusual high ATFM delays. This capacity reduction should be applied until beginning of July in Zurich ACC and June in Geneva ACC.

En route Capacity Incentive Scheme

Skyguide: Switzerland uses an incentive scheme based only on delays attributed to C,R,S,T,M & P delay codes. The national target was set at 0.13 minutes per flight and the actual performance is reported as 0.07 minutes per flight (CRSTMP only). This results in a reported bonus of 780,390 CHF
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.

Other indicators

These figures are based on a financial view. However, the 1st of January 2024 Skyguide implemented a new ERP. Unfortunately it led to change the process of collecting financial data, hence, it is not possible anymore to check if those values are in line with the way Skyguide provided data for 2022. In 2024, Skyguide will use the same file as for this report and for RP4, it will be used the operational view for which there are some automated ways to retrieve part of these figures (it will be more efficient and a lot less time consuming).

Terminal performance

Arrival ATFM delay (KPI#2)

Switzerland identifies its two main airports Zurich (LSZH) and Geneva (LSGG) as subject to RP3 monitoring. Both airports have a fully implemented data flow that allows the proper monitoring of the pre-departure delays. Traffic in 2023 at these two airports was still 9% lower than in 2019, but 12% higher than in 2021.

Average arrival ATFM delays in 2023 was 1.5 min/arr, compared to 0.74 min/arr in 2022. The national target was not met. ATFM slot adherence was very similar to the previous year (2023: 95.7%; 2022: 95.6%).

ATFM delays at both Swiss airports increased in 2023, especially in Zurich (LSZH: 2019: 1.99 min/arr.; 2020: 0.60 min/arr.; 2021: 0.51 min/arr.; 2022: 0.93 min/arr.; 2023: 2.12 min/arr.) 65% of these delays at Swiss airports were attributed to weather and 23% to aerodrome capacity issues.
According to the Swiss monitoring report: In 2023, delays were due to Aerodrome Capacity (31%), Weather (29%), Staffing (18%), Industrial Action (non-ATC) (13%), ATC-Capacity (4%), Other (3%, activists on RWY) and Accident (2%) in Geneva. Delays were due to Weather (73%), Aerodrome Capacity (20%), Environmental issues (3%), Equipment (non-ATC) (1%), Special Event (1%), Equipment (ATC) (1%) and Airspace Management (1%) in Zurich. As 94% of the delays are due to regulations that are not under Skyguide’s control, and as the CRSTMP target was just achieved, the situation is assessed as good.


The Swiss performance plan sets a national target on arrival ATFM delay for 2023 of 1.28 min/arr. This target was not met, with an actual performance of 1.5 min/arr. The incentive scheme uses modulated pivot values limited to CRSTMP delay causes. According to the Swiss monitoring report, this pivot value for CRSTMP is 0.09 min/arr in 2023 and based on the attribution of the regulation reason, the actual CRSTMP value for 2023 was 0.09 min/arr, which falls within the deadband.

According to the Swiss monitoring report:Skyguide just achieved its CRSTMP target: the target was set at 0.09 min/flt and the actual value is 0.09 min/flt and didn’t achieve the total ATFM ARR delay per ARR movement target: the target was set at 1.28 min/flt and the actual value is 1.50 min/flt. This is mainly due to Weather and aerodrome capacity regulations. With respect to the total Arrival ATFM delay, 94% of the ATFM delays were due to reasons not under managerial control (Weather, Aerodrome capacity, Environmental issues, etc.). Therefore, no specific measure is required.

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 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Geneva 0.49 0.19 0.48 0.59 NA 94.7% 93.1% 94.0% 93.8% NA% 0.24 0.13 0.32 0.52 NA 8.5 9.0 15.1 16.4 NA
Zurich 0.60 0.51 0.93 2.12 NA 94.4% 96.0% 96.7% 97.0% NA% 0.48 0.39 0.71 1.13 NA 7.5 9.7 15.8 19.8 NA

ATFM slot adherence

On average, these airports showed a 95,7% adherence to ATFM slots, similar to the performance in 2022 (95.6%). With regard to the 4.3% of flights that did not adhere, 2.9% was early and 1.4% was late.

According to the Swiss monitoring report: National level and main national individual airports involved are above the 80% threshold of compliance and is close to 2022 achievement.

ATC pre-departure delay

The performance at both Swiss airports in terms of ATC pre-departure delay deteriorated in 2023. At Zurich (LSZH; 2019: 1.63 min/dep.; 2020: 0.52 min/dep.; 2021: 0.39 min/dep.; 2022: 0.71 min/dep.; 2023: 1.13 min/dep.) it was still better than in 2019. At Geneva (LSGG: 2019: 0.36 min/dep.; 2022: 0.32 min/dep.; 2023: 0.52 min/dep.) on the other hand, performance is worse than in 2019.

According to the Swiss monitoring report: 2023 actual performance is worse than 2022 (and 2021 or 2020), which is fully in line with the traffic increase at both airports. Traffic increased by 15% in 2023 vs 2022 at Zurich Airport and by 7% at Geneva Airport, but traffic levels remained lower than 2019, however, traffic predictability and traffic volatility were 2 factors playing a key role in generating delay at departure. No particular issues have been identified and no specific measures have been implemented in 2023 in relation to this PI.

All causes pre-departure delay

The total (all causes) delay in the actual off block time at both Geneva and Zurich increased again in 2023 (LSZH: 2020: 7.55 min/dep.; 2021: 9.66 min/dep.;2022: 15.82 min/dep.; 2023: 19.85 min/dep.; LSGG: 2020: 8.46 min/dep.; 2021: 9.03 min/dep.; 2022: 15.12 min/dep.; 2023: 16.42 min/dep.).

According to the Swiss monitoring report: With the increase of traffic at airports (+15% at LSZH and +6% at LSGG), the indicator ‘average time of all cause departure delay per flight’ deteriorated in 2023 compared with 2022. At ANSP level, we are not in a position to explain all delays reasons, and more particularly the non-ATFM delays.