High season delay in Europe's skies is expected to be lower than last year because of air traffic control (ATC) capacity improvement and a possible dip in traffic figures, according to Eurocontrol's Central Flow Management Unit (CFMU) forecasts. This depends, however, on national air traffic service (ATS) providers meeting capacity enhancement targets.
Average 2002 high season delays are forecast to be 1.4min per flight, comprising 0.6min en-route ATC delay and 0.8min airport-related delay. Average high season delay in 2001 was 3.9min per flight. Delays in all sectors except Manchester, UK, and Brindisi and Milan, Italy is expected to be less than it was last year, says Eurocontrol. The biggest improvements are expected in Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland; Bordeaux and Reims, France; Maastricht, the Netherlands; Warsaw, Poland; and Madrid, Spain; which were all black-spots in 2001.
The former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, under Eurocontrol guidance, has introduced new air traffic management equipment.
Source: Flight International
