According to A4E and the Network Manager, air traffic in July 2017 has risen by 5.2% compared to July 2016 and by 8% compared to July 2015. However, the number of delay minutes recorded has risen by an extraordinary 12% compared to 2016 and 35% compared to 2015, bringing the total delay minutes across the network in July 2017 to nearly 3 million. That is 50,000 hours.

A4E therefore experience that many of their passengers are delayed on their way through Europe, at they call on all EU ANSPs to take remedial action to address this issue both in the short and longer term.

Zero delays in the Danish airspace

Naviair fully understands the concerns regarding the delays that have increased in parts of the European network in 2017. However, we are pleased to inform both A4E and our customers, that there are no delays and no ATM restrictions in Danish airspace. In fact we have not had any ATFM delays in Danish airspace since 2008.  Based on these facts we can assure, that our customers do not need to have any concerns about delays in Danish airspace caused by Naviair and our air traffic control.

It is our ambition always to be among the top performers in Europe delivering safe and efficient air traffic control and management to our customers at the lowest possible costs.  And we seek pride in delivering the highest quality of service. 

There are zero En-route ATFM delays (0 minutes) so far in Danish air-space this year. Naviair is not contributing to delays in the European network. There have been no delays in Denmark since 2008 where we implemented a system replacement. The zero delays service have been obtained despite substantial traffic growth over the past ten years.

Naviair is also amongst the frontrunners when it comes to implementing Free Route Airspace (FRA), introduced in 2011 in the DK-SE FIR. This has contributed to minimising delays as well as increased savings and efficiency for our airline customers due to fuel- and CO2 savings as well as reduced route distance. Naviair is contributing to next step of FRA covering the entire Northern-European airspace from Ireland, the UK, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland to Estonia and Latvia. This will also benefit aviation and environment.

To this, Naviair is in partnership with LFV owner of NUAC, the only integrated operation company in Europe responsible for the full En-route ATM in a joint functional airspace block (FAB) – namely the DK-SE FAB. NUAC is responsible for operating the three control centres in Copenhagen, Malmoe and Stockholm on behalf of LFV and Naviair, increasing efficiency in the DK-SE FAB.

And finally - as a member of the COOPANS Alliance Naviair is working as a frontrunner to harmonise and standardise 7 control centres in 5 countries in Europe. The COOPANS Alliance has enabled Naviair and the other four partners to take the lead in the matter of implementing EU-requirements for the harmonisation of ATM. 

We are looking forward to keep continuing to contribute to the positive development in the air traffic control in Europe.