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  1. Environment
  • Year report
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    • 2024 ✓
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  • Spain
  • Overview
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  • Safety
    • PRB monitoring
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      • Runway incursions
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    • ASDRS

  • Environment
    • PRB monitoring
    • En route performance
      • Horizontal flight efficiency
    • Terminal performance
      • AXOT & ASMA
      • CDO
    • CIV-MIL

  • Capacity
    • PRB monitoring
    • En route performance
      • En route ATFM delay
      • Other indicators
    • Terminal performance
      • Arrival ATFM delay
      • Other performance indicators

  • Cost-efficiency
    • PRB monitoring
    • En route CZ - Spain Continental
      • Unit cost
      • AUCU
      • Regulatory Result
    • En route CZ - Spain Canarias
      • Unit cost
      • AUCU
      • Regulatory Result
    • Terminal CZ
      • Unit cost
      • AUCU
      • Regulatory Result

Environment - Spain

Download Report

PRB monitoring

▪ Spain achieved a KEA performance of 3.30% compared to its target of 3.08% and did not contribute positively towards achieving the Union-wide target.

▪ The NSA states that main factors for not meeting the KEA target were increased traffic demand leading to congestion in key airspace sectors, sector staffing and adverse weather conditions.

▪ Both KEP and SCR remained stable in comparison to 2023.

▪ The share of CDO flights increased from 40.67% to 41.68% in 2024.

▪ Additional taxi out time increased from 2.24 to 2.40 min/flight, while additional time in terminal airspace increased from 1.11 to 1.32 min/flight in 2024 compared to 2023.

En route performance

Horizontal flight efficiency of the actual trajectory (KEA) (KPI#1), of the last filed flight plan (KEP) (PI#1) & shortest constrained route (SCR) (PI#2)

Terminal performance

Additional taxi-out time (AXOT) (PI#3) & Arrival Sequencing and Metering Area (ASMA) time (PI#4)

Focus on ASMA & AXOT

AXOT

The additional taxi out time (aggregated for the 6 airports monitored in RP3) increased in 2024 by 6.9% in relation to the value of 2023. Both Madrid (LEMD; 2019: 4.01 min/dep.; 2020: 2.12 min/dep.; 2021: 2.11 min/dep.; 2022: 2.57 min/dep.; 2023: 3.29 min/dep.; 2024: 3.3 min/dep.) and Barcelona (LEBL; 2019: 4.48 min/dep.; 2020: 1.84 min/dep.; 2021: 2.33 min/dep.; 2022: 3.6 min/dep.; 2023: 2.93 min/dep.; 2024: 3.18 min/dep.) observed additional taxi-out times above the SES average for 2024 (2.91 min/dep.)

According to the Spanish monitoring report: In general, the greatest increase throughout the year occurs in the high season months of each airport, variations in this indicator are related to traffic especially at airports such as LEPA and LEMG. In 2024 taxi times at GCLP are higher than 2023 due to traffic increase and RWY closure several days a year for works at the access points to the thresholds of RWY 03L and 03R. Taxi times at LEBL are high in Jun, September and October due to frequent adverse weather conditions. Regarding the implementation of Manual TWR-Update DPI, it has been fully implemented in Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca y Málaga, as well as in Las Palmas (A-TWR). Autoswitch for departures is now fully implemented in Madrid, as well as in Barcelona and Málaga. Although LEIB did not reach >80k movements in 2016-2018, it does in 2023 and 2024 and is monitored together with these 6 airports as it is one of the airports considered in the Spanish performance plan (ESPP3) for RP3. In 2024 it reaches a value of 2,24, 12,0% higher than the 2023 value (2,00). The additional taxi out time (aggregated for the 7 airports monitored in RP3) has a value of 2,75 slightly higher than 2023 and 2022 values.

ASMA

The additional time in terminal area (aggregated for the 6 airports monitored in RP3) in 2024 increased by 20% in relation to the value of 2023.
Malaga observed the highest increase (51%) in the additional ASMA times (LEMG; 2019: 1.26 min/arr.; 2020: 0.81 min/arr.; 2021: 0.95 min/arr.; 2022: 1.08 min/arr.; 2023: 1.07 min/arr.; 2024: 1.62 min/arr.), followed by Gran Canaria (GCLP; 2019: 1.55 min/arr.; 2020: 0.84 min/arr.; 2021: 1.08 min/arr.; 2022: 1.29 min/arr.; 2023: 1.23 min/arr.; 2024: 1.74 min/arr.) and Barcelona (LEBL; 2019: 2.58 min/arr.; 2020: 1.13 min/arr.; 2021: 1.07 min/arr.; 2022: 1.7 min/arr.; 2023: 2,03 min/arr.; 2024: 2,33 min/arr.). Barcelona resulted in the second highest value across the SES monitored airports. Together with Barcelona (LEBL), Palma(LEPA), Gran Canaria (GCLP) and Malaga (LEMG) resulted in additional ASMA time above the SES average (1.28 min/arr.). Madrid and Alicante also observed increases in 2024 but their additional ASMA times remained under the SES average.

According to the Spanish monitoring report: In general, the greatest increase throughout the year occurs in the high season months of each airport, variations in this indicator are related to traffic, especially at airports such as LEPA. High ASMA times during the latter part of the year at GCLP due to new procedures in Canarias TMA. There is a peak in ASMA times at LEMD due to RWY14R/32L closure for maintenance during October and November. ASMA times at LEBL are high in Jun, September and October due to frequent adverse weather conditions. Some restructuring projects are planned or have been already implemented in the main TMAs in Spain:
- PBN STARs and RNP APCH in Madrid TMA: Implemented.
- PBN SIDs, ILS & RNP APCH in Palma TMA: planned for 2027-2028.
- Reorganization of Canarias TMA: an specific project will be developed in the coming years.

Although LEIB did not reach >80k movements in 2016-2018, it does in 2023 and 2024 and is monitored together with these 6 airports since it is one of the airports considered in the Spanish performance plan (ESPP3) for RP3. In 2024 it reaches a value of 0,87, at the same level than 2023 value (0,86). The additional time in terminal area (aggregated for the 7 airports monitored in RP3) has a value of 1,52 in 2024, 20% higher than the previous year (1,27).

Share of arrivals applying continuous descent operations (CDOs) (PI#5)

Focus CDOs

All airports had their share of CDO flights above the overall RP3 value in 2024 (29.3%), ranging from 29.9% (LEMD) to 56.2% (LEMG). The values increased for Malaga (LEMG, +3.9 percentage points), Alicante (LEAL, +3.7 percentage points) and Palma de Mallorca (LEPA, +1.4 percentage points) while the values for the other airports stayed almost the same. Over the summer months, the share of CDO flights is generally lower.

According to the Spanish monitoring report: The share of arrivals applying continuous descent operation (aggregated for the 7 airports monitored in RP3) has remained at the same level as in 2023 (+2,7%), despite 8% higher traffic levels.The conditions of use of continuous descent procedures mean that the use of this type of procedure is not always compatible with the techniques used when it is necessary to manage medium/high traffic demands at airports/TMAs. Therefore, the authorisation of these procedures must be compatible with the airport’s operations in order to meet the demand without establishing restrictions. In the long term, there are plans to modify the structure of the CDA procedures currently published at some airports and to transfer to the arrival procedures section of the AIP the information to proceed with the continuous descent from some point of the STARs to the IAF, to some point of the intermediate approach or to the IF, thus maximising the use of these operations. This PI is monitored by AESA. If significant deviations are found, the possible causes will be analysed by contacting the relevant stakeholder.

Airport level
Airport
Additional taxi-out time (PI#3)
Additional ASMA time (PI#4)
Share of arrivals applying CDO (PI#5)
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Alicante 0.70 1.15 1.49 1.39 1.67 0.41 0.62 0.72 0.92 0.97 45% 40% 37% 39% 42%
Barcelona 1.84 2.33 3.60 2.93 3.18 1.13 1.07 1.70 2.03 2.33 39% 36% 34% 34% 33%
Las Palmas 1.09 1.75 2.03 1.81 2.32 0.84 1.08 1.29 1.23 1.74 47% 43% 41% 41% 41%
Ibiza 1.18 1.94 2.19 2.00 2.24 0.61 1.05 0.90 0.86 0.87 41% 31% 32% 34% 33%
Madrid/Barajas 2.12 2.11 2.57 3.29 3.30 0.62 0.52 0.64 0.89 1.09 32% 28% 28% 29% 30%
Malaga 1.39 2.20 2.56 2.00 2.26 0.81 0.95 1.08 1.07 1.62 54% 47% 50% 52% 56%
Palma De Mallorca 0.69 1.83 2.32 2.41 2.48 0.35 1.13 1.39 1.30 1.36 47% 38% 37% 37% 38%

Civil-Military dimension

Focus on Civil-Military dimension

Update on Military dimension of the plan

Civil-Military coordination regarding Flexible Use of Airspace is on progress. Spain has a well established specific working group called UPEA inside CIDETRA (previous CIDETMA) to deal with FUA improvements implementation. More efforts are needed to better disseminate FUA implemented developments to civil operators as a means to ensure that flight plans use more efficient routes by taking advantage of released airspace (CURA).
Civil-Military coordination regarding Flexible Use of Airspace is on progress. Spain has a well established specific working group called UPEA inside CIDETRA (previous CIDETMA) to deal with FUA improvements implementation. More efforts are needed to better disseminate FUA implemented developments to civil operators as a means to ensure that flight plans use more efficient routes by taking advantage of released airspace (CURA).

Military - related measures implemented or planned to improve capacity

The Spanish Air and Space Force has actively participated in the general meetings for the implementation of the Spanish Free Route Airspace Program, taking part in the CB FRA meetings with Portugal and in the development of the interconnection with Morocco (these actions are carried out within the framework of a specific group composed by ENAIRE and the Spanish Air and Space Force created for the purpose of further improving the coordination for the implementation of FRA, with a special focus on ASM related issues). In addition, close coordination is maintained with the Network Manager and MILO (continuous update of the planning and coordination of Large Exercises). A group of initiatives has been launched to improve VPA implementation, ARES modulation and FUA-R use. Implementation of the Spanish SCC transition plan continues. The civil-military procedure for the creation of variable geometry ARES is in place and a review of P, R and D areas is underway. Improved civil-military coordination for ad-hoc requests and major exercises is in place. Spain Mil and Civ participate in the OEP’s FUA initiatives as champions in the preparation of large exercises. Spain Military has participated in the development of Eurocontrol’s ASM-ATFCM integration CONOPS and is a member of the ASM-ATFCM Focus Group.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#6

NSA monitors values and promotes a better adjustments on the booked them to the needs. 2024 shows an increase of 3 points in the use percentage. It is worth to highlight that Spain provides with actual use figures, instead of ERSA. The particularities of this indicator have been analyzed in our airspace since there are no monthly data published at SES portal and they are provided by the Spanish Air Force NSA.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#7

In the coming years, ENAIRE aims to improve this Performance Indicator (PI) through a number of measures, continuing with the introduction of new FUA restrictions to allow additional traffic flows through RSAs with military activity, the development of adjustable boundary procedures, the implementation of modular RSAs and improvements in the management of military RPAS activity. In addition, the implementation of FRA is expected to support more efficient flight planning through optimal routing.

This PI is monitored annually to evaluate the evolution of the indicators because our ANSP, ENAIRE, which provides the data to calculate the indicator, requests it from Eurocontrol and for the time being they are not in a position to request it on a more frequent basis. If significant deviations are found, the possible causes will be analysed by contacting the relevant stakeholder.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#8

In the coming years, ENAIRE expects to improve this Performance Indicator (PI) with the definition of new FUA restrictions allowing new traffic flows through an RSA with military activity, the definition of adjustable boundary procedures, new modular RSAs, improvements in military RPAS activity management, etc. We also expect the implementation of FRA to improve flight planning through optimal routing.

This PI is monitored annually to evaluate the evolution of the indicators because our ANSP, ENAIRE, which provides the data to calculate the indicator, requests it from Eurocontrol and for the time being they are not in a position to request it on a more frequent basis. If significant deviations are found, the possible causes will be analysed by contacting the relevant stakeholder.

 
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