AUC vs. DUC
In 2025, the terminal AUC was -7.4% (or -10.58 €2022) lower than the planned DUC. This results from the combination of significantly lower than planned terminal costs in real terms (-8.1%, or -4.0 M€2022) and slightly lower than planned TNSUs (-0.8%).
Terminal service units
The difference between actual and planned TNSUs (-0.8%) falls inside the ±2% dead-band. Hence, the loss of terminal revenues is borne by the ANSPs.
Terminal costs by entity
Actual real terminal costs are -8.1% (-4.0 M€2022) lower than planned. This is the result of lower costs for the main ANSP, NAV Portugal (-8.4%, or -4.0 M€2022) and the NSA (-14.1%, or -0.1 M€2022) and higher costs for the MET service provider (+3.3%, or +0.1 M€2022).
Terminal costs for the main ANSP (NAV Portugal (Continental)) at charging zone level
Based on the additional information to the terminal reporting tables, the significantly lower than planned terminal costs in real terms for NAV Portugal in 2025 (-8.4%, or -4.0 M€2022) result from:
Significantly lower than planned staff costs (-8.1%), mainly due to significantly lower-than-expected defined benefit pension costs, driven by favourable financial market conditions, while remuneration and other social charges remained in line with plan.
Significantly lower than planned other operating costs (-7.6%), mainly due to lower electricity prices and reduced expenditure on rent and leasing, maintenance and repairs, and travel, partially offset by increased investment in IT and security.
Slightly higher than planned depreciation (+1.7%), driven by the commissioning of investments implemented in recent years.
Significantly lower than planned cost of capital (-51.0%) resulting from a much smaller-than expected asset base.
Assessment of the actual performance in the charging zone reported by the NSA
The NSA of Portugal provides the following overall assessment of the actual performance in 2025 at charging zone level:
“Total terminal costs, in real terms, were 8.1% lower than planned, which, combined with a negative deviation of 0.8% in service units, resulted in an actual unit cost 7.4% lower than projected.
This result was based on NAV Portugal, whose actual costs were 8.4% lower than the estimated costs, mainly due to the behavior of costs associated with defined benefit pension funds, where savings resulting from market factors – approximately 1.9 million euros – will be returned to airspace users in the next reference period.”
Explanation of the differences between actual and determined costs at charging zone level reported by the NSA
The NSA provides the following explanation for the differences between actual and determined costs in the charging zone:
“As justified above.”
Recommendations formulated by the NSA to the ANSP (NAV Portugal (Continental)) to rectify the situation and actions taken by the ANSP
The NSA 2025 monitoring report indicates the following recommendations formulated by the NSA:
“There is no deviation to rectify.”
NAV Portugal reports the implementation of the following actions:
“The cost-efficiency targets for terminal have been met by the ANSP.”