Image: Eurocontrol
In 2016, Europe saw a record amount of air traffic, Eurocontrol said. Until last year, 2008 held the record. But Eurocontrol’s 2016 Network Manager Annual Report showed that there were 10,190,903 flights and an increase of network traffic of 2.8% compared to the previous year.
Eurocontrol said the report’s highlights for last year include:
- Making off-load routes available in order to mitigate the impact of disruptions;
- The progressive implementation and utilisation of free routes; this helped ease inefficiencies in airspace availability due to the rise in abnormal/crisis situations
- Meeting the targets on cost efficiency as set out in the Network Performance Plan; the safety targets were partially met
- Contributing to good performance in Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Spain. Nicosia, Athens and Makedonia area control center (ACC) all had over 70% fewer delays during the summer, albeit with slightly lower traffic levels
- The implementation of measures agreed in managing delays despite a very high traffic increase in ACCs in Portugal and Spain
- Excellent cooperation with Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne (DSNA) for the ERATO implementation in the Bordeaux ACC at the end of the year: this exercise is now a benchmark for future system implementations
- The activation of the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC) in response to the Brussels Airport terrorist attacks on 22 March 2016. By gathering and sharing information, the impact on the aviation network outside Belgium was contained.
- The validation of the action plan on short-term actions in response to improvement measures requested in the Review of the Network Manager, as conducted by the European Commission. The action plan covers governance, financial arrangements, the cost base and cost-efficiency.
Click here to download the report.