The report provides an overview of the European ATM network performance in 2022. It analyses the results in light of the main events that took place in the course of the year.
Network traffic recovered during 2022 as COVID-19 restrictions were removed. The closure of Ukrainian airspace and increased military operations, together with ground operations problems, brought new operational challenges. Network capacity issues common to previous years returned. These are addressed throughout the report.
The closure of Ukrainian airspace affected horizontal route efficiency as flights had to re-route. Restrictions also returned to manage complex summer traffic situations. Nevertheless, NM believes the network is more efficient than 2019 and is publishing for the first time its estimate of NM area fuel burn – 42.8 million tonnes in 2022. This will be the basis for future monitoring.