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  1. Environment
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  • Switzerland
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  • Environment
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    • En route performance
      • Horizontal flight efficiency
    • Terminal performance
      • AXOT & ASMA
      • CDO
    • CIV-MIL

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

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Environment - Switzerland

Download Report

PRB monitoring

▪ Switzerland achieved a KEA performance of 4.10% compared to its target of 3.95% and did not contribute positively towards achieving the Union-wide target.

▪ The NSA states that most inefficiencies are due to the network being impacted by ATC strikes in neighbouring countries or flight planning.

▪ Both KEP and SCR improved in 2024 compared to 2023. Despite the KEA target being missed, KEA improved in 2024. Additionally, the improvement in SCR shows that Switzerland has enhanced the environmental efficiency of its airspace when accounting for impacts outside of its control.

▪ The share of CDO flights remained stable in 2024.

▪ Additional taxi out time increased from 2.72 to 2.89 min/flight, while additional time in terminal airspace increased marginally from 1.92 to 2.02 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

Additional taxi-out times at both Swiss airports increased in 2023. In particular Zurich (LSZH; 2019: 3.65 min/dep; 2020: 2.23 min/dep.; 2021: 1,93 min/dep.; 2022: 2.49 min/dep.; 2023: 2.94 min/dep.; 2024: 3.04 min/dep.) exceeded the SES average of 2.91 min/dep.

According to the Swiss monitoring report: Ground efficiency has suffered from increased traffic in the summer of 2024.

Further improvements will result from the use of :
1/ the CP1 Airport Operation Plan, although it should be noted that taxi-out time is dependent on weather conditions, particularly if de-icing is required.
2/ the deployment of new DARTS (LSZH only) where various ground efficiency elements are expected.

ASMA

Additional times in the terminal area slightly increased at both airports. Zurich (LSZH; 2019: 2.91 min/arr.; 2020: 1.28 min/arr.; 2021: 1.29 min/arr.; 2022: 1.84 min/arr; 2023: 2.27 min/arr; 2024: 2.33 min/arr) observed the second highest additional ASMA times among the SES monitored airports in 2024, even if its performance was still better than in 2019.

According to the Swiss monitoring report: Efficiency within the last 40NM (additional time in descent flight phase) around LSZH and LSGG decreased in 2024 due to traffic increase.

In LSZH, XMAN, AOP (thanks to the TTA used through the TTMS tool implemented by Zurich Airport) and Leading Optimised Runway Delivery (LORD) projects should help improving performance. In LSGG, the deployment of an AMAN and LORD should help improve the performance.

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

Focus CDOs

The share of CDO flights remained stable with respect to 2023 but the values are still below the overall RP3 value in 2024 (29.3%).

According to the Swiss monitoring report: Vertical flight efficiency from Top of Descent remained stable in 2024 despite traffic increase. CDOs can be flown only when traffic is reduced. Skyguide was audited in 2023, 2024 and 2025 by CANSO for CCO/CDO practices in ZRH and GVA as part of its GreenATM accreditation. Room for improvement is identified and corrective actions will be taken. Skyguide continues to work with the airlines to improve the CCO/CDO rate. The OMASI trial with Swiss, aimed at implementing dynamic RAD on the border between France and Switzerland, OMASI waypoint, and thus enabling CDO from Top of Descent, was completed in March 2024. It shows impressive results and post-trial analysis will determine whether it can be continued. It is expected to save 252 tonnes of CO2. Projects are planned to implement an AMAN in Geneva and optimize the Extended-AMAN (XMAN) in Zurich. The AMAN plays a critical role in ensuring that CDO can be executed effectively. By optimizing traffic flow, coordinating arrivals, and minimizing disruptions, AMAN enhances the ability of aircraft to maintain a smooth, uninterrupted descent. Furthermore, in LSZH, LADY (Lean AMAN Development Yielder) will improve the inbound trajectory calculation, thus allowing the ATCOs to deliver a highly reliable “miles to touchdown” information to the pilots, which in turn will allow them to optimise their descents and contribute to our CDO objectives. To further optimise CCO/CDO, a project based on new controller tools (including AMAN) and airspace design is planned

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
Geneva 2.06 1.71 1.88 2.40 2.68 1.27 0.95 1.37 1.43 1.55 19% 19% 17% 17% 16%
Zurich 2.23 1.93 2.49 2.94 3.04 1.28 1.29 1.84 2.27 2.33 21% 20% 18% 19% 20%

Civil-Military dimension

Focus on Civil-Military dimension

Update on Military dimension of the plan

For obvious flight safety reasons, military activities must be segregated from civil flows which has an impact on both horizontal (HFE) and vertical flight efficiency (VFE). Because ASM manageable areas form an integral part of the nominal system, military airspace reservations shall be considered as part of the performance baseline rather than a key factor degrading environmental KPIs.

As a result of implementation of the FUA concept the impact of military activities using Restricted Airspace -RSA on civil performance is highly minored when associated with an efficient ASM process:
- At strategic level (HLAPB) by designing areas in accordance with A-FUA concept (MVPA/VGA structures), especially for congested airspaces.
- At pre-tactical level (AMC), by managing these areas in a dynamic way, with an associated level 2 CDM process, validated by HLAPB.
- At tactical level (ACC/Regional Military Control Centre) by activating/deactivating areas as close as possible to actual use and allowing crossing or direct routes when possible (in accordance with TRA status), with an associated level 3 CDM process validated by HLAPB.
- At each level, HLAPB, AMC or ACC/Regional Military Control Centre, a key factor of efficiency is a trust-driven civil-military cooperation. As a counterpart, AOs and CFSPs must be reactive and take efficiently into account available or released airspaces. At last, ANSP have also to adapt the route network to create more DCTs within military areas.

Finally, local circumstances (e.g. constrained airspace, proximity of international hubs, etc….) as well as a large number of military missions that differ from one State to another must be taken into account. Therefore, airspace needs (e.g. airspace requirements for the 5th generation fighters) and related ASM procedures of the States differ and standardized objectives cannot be defined.

Military - related measures implemented or planned to improve capacity

FABEC States are working on mid-term improvements regarding implementation of ASM level 1, 2, and 3 procedures. Some local initiatives regarding ASM/ATFCM convergence, like the traffic Light Scheme concept in France are promoted at FABEC level, as well as at ECAC level in the EUROCONTROL OEP framework.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#6

Remark: The Rolling UUP and Procedure 3 were introduced in Switzerland on 01.01.2016.

Monitoring of effectiveness: Since introduction of Rolling UUP and Procedure 3 in 2016, the PI#6 ratio improved and remained high and stable over years implying more reliable flight planning possibilities by AUs across Swiss airspace.

Ongoing national civil-military initiatives: Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users. In addition, CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or “Use cases” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#7

Remark: In the figures provided by Eurocontrol (PRISMIL) until 2021 (included), there was no way of knowing whether the flights that filed through the available RSA are indeed a subset of the flights that could have filed through the available RSA. This correction is now available and has been computed retroactively for all years.

Ongoing national civil-military initiatives: Promoting a more proactive flight planning process (considering the last published airspace status) by the Airspace Users. Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users.

Monitoring of effectiveness: Military mission planning remained stable at a high level over years implying more reliable flight planning by AUs across Swiss airspace. CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or “Use cases” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

Initiatives implemented or planned to improve PI#8

Remark: In the figures provided by Eurocontrol (PRISMIL) until 2021 (included), there was no way of knowing whether the flights that filed through the available RSA are indeed a subset of the flights that could have filed through the available RSA. This correction is now available and has been computed retroactively for all years.

Ongoing national civil-military initiatives: Promoting a more proactive flight planning process (considering the last published airspace status) by the Airspace Users. Additional improvements are foreseen at the mid/long term such as introduction of VPA, improved CDM-ATFCM, improved civ-mil ASM Tools, etc. that shall give even more direct routing options to the Airspace Users.

Monitoring of effectiveness: Military mission planning remained stable at a high level over years implying more reliable flight planning by AUs across Swiss airspace. CH NSA is in the process of defining specific national PIs and/or “Use cases” in order to better assess (and improve, if necessary) the effectiveness of national FUA processes.

 
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