KEA
With respect to 2024, there has been a degradation for the values of KEA and the KEA corrected for the influence of war in Ukraine. Kea went from 1.49% to 1.67%, while the corrected KEA went from 1.45% to 1.61%. In both cases they are relatively good values, as they Malta as 6th (for KEA) and 8th (for KEA corrected).
Moreover, Malta has the second lowest contribution to the overall additional distance in the SES area with 0.41%.
Regarding the assessment of the achieved level of actual performance in the environment KPA, the NSA reports: “The 2025 target for horizontal en-route flight efficiency of the actual trajectory (KEA) was not achieved.
Actual performance was 1.67% compared with the target of 1.56%.
The NSA considers that environmental performance at local level was affected mainly by the wider network context, including traffic growth above forecast and changes in traffic patterns linked to geopolitical developments affecting route choices across the network. This was particularly the case in the East Sector of LMMM during the 12-day war in the Middle East and its immediate aftermath. It is also noted that delays in the Greece FIR also affected LMMM as operators rerouted through LMMM to reduce flow control delays and therefore flight plans filed diverged from actual traffic routing.
No evidence was identified of a major local structural degradation in environmental performance attributable solely to the local service provision arrangements.”
Regarding the implementation of major operational or structural changes during the calendar year impacting performance in this key performance area, the NSA reports: “No major operational or structural changes were implemented in 2025 that would explain the variance in KEA. The local ANSP continued planning and investment activities relevant to future operational modernisation, including deployment-related projects under RP4, but these are expected to contribute primarily in the medium term rather than to have materially changed the 2025 KEA outcome.”
Regarding progress on the implementation of the measures committed to in the ERNIP, the NSA reports: “Implementation continued in line with Malta’s RP4 planning and wider network coordination arrangements.
In particular, the investment programme continued to include initiatives supporting interoperability and network integration, such as the new SWIM-compliant ATM system and free-route-airspace-related developments.
The performance effect of these measures is expected to materialise progressively over RP4 & RP5.
Plans for in the introduction of PBN SIDs / STARs and a redesign of the TMA are still ongoing and will affect future years.”
Regarding the identification and analysis by the NSA of the underlying reasons or circumstances having led to the performance target not being achieved, the NSA reports: “The principal factors underlying the shortfall were traffic levels above forecast and the continued influence of wider network constraints and geopolitical routing and rerouting effects outside Malta’s sole control. These factors affected the trajectories operated in the charging zone and reduced the likelihood of meeting the local KEA target despite the absence of any evidence of significant local capacity stress in en-route operations.”
Regarding recommendations to the ANSP to rectify the situation, the NSA reports: “The NSA recommends that the ANSP continue to support network measures aimed at improving flight efficiency, including route design optimisation where feasible, timely implementation of network-relevant ATM modernisation projects, and continued coordination with the Network Manager. The NSA will continue to monitor the evolution of KEA, the related planning indicators (KEP/KES) and the implementation status of the relevant RP4 investments and network measures in subsequent annual monitoring cycles.”
Regarding remedial measures that have been / will be taken by the ANSP to rectify the situation, the NSA reports: “While the Free Route Implementation in the Malta FIR / UIR has been achieved with full implementation by end Nov 2025, the introduction of RNAV SIDs and STARs previously planned for implementation in 2023 has experienced several delays. These delays are further delaying the introduction of CCO/CDO. MATS is looking forward to rectify this issue with urgency.”
Regarding the follow up of the remedial measures indicated in the previous monitoring report(s), the NSA reports: “Not applicable.”
KEP
Regarding initiatives implemented or planned that will improve this PI and how does the NSA intend on monitoring their effectiveness on performance, the NSA reports: “When the implementation of the PBN SIDs / STARs and the redesign of the TMA the PI is expected to improve.”
KES
Regarding initiatives implemented or planned that will improve this PI and how does the NSA intend on monitoring their effectiveness on performance, the NSA reports: “The instability of flight planning due to the conflict in the Middle East / Persian Gulf can be regarded as a contributing factor for this result.
FRA is fully available in the Malta FIR / UIR and no further initatives are being considered”
Vertical flight efficiency
Regarding initiatives implemented or planned that will improve this PI and how does the NSA intend on monitoring their effectiveness on performance, the NSA reports: “The forthcoming introduction of RNAV SIDs / STARs with CDO and CCO procedures is planned to improve this value. At this stage, this project is still pending.”