The report provides a review and comparison of ATM cost-effectiveness for 38 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in Europe, based on their latest economic data submissions (covering the year 2024). This report demonstrates the recovery of the Pan-European ATM system from the shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across several key metrics. Therefore, it also includes a retrospective analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European ATM, including the measures implemented in response and lessons learned.
The COVID-19 crisis exposed the challenges for ANSPs and other ANS stakeholders in making decisions amid high uncertainty on traffic recovery. Bridging the revenue gap was a primary concern, with ANSPs relying heavily on cash reserves and access to loan financing. Measures containing cost and capex were also implemented, some of which, while necessary at the time, later proved to constrain recovery and capacity redeployment. In contrast, greater flexibility in workforce management and operations, as well as a good level of interaction amongst local and European stakeholders, was essential in adapting to the crisis.
For 2024, the report shows that ATM/CNS provision cost‑effectiveness reached €469 per composite flight‑hour, the lowest level since 2002 in real terms. It also highlights that the recruitment and training of ATCOs increased, and capital expenditures rebounded sharply at the Pan-European system level. These developments indicate that several ANSPs have been actively expanding their operational capability in a context of robust traffic recovery. This is essential given the record 29.6 million minutes of ATFM delays generated in 2024.
Additional information is publicly available on the ACE website, which offers direct access to all ACE reports, individual ANSP factsheets and an interactive dashboard allowing users to customise presentations based on ACE data.
For further information on the ACE benchmarking reports, or if you wish to provide feedback, please contact the Performance Review Unit ([email protected]).
