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Rapport
annuel

2023

Efficiency
all along the line

In 2023, the international and economic situation in Europe kept traffic levels just below those of 2019, before the outbreak of the health crisis. However, skeyes is a forward-looking company and has continued its programme of innovation while improving its processes to align performance in the key areas on which tomorrow’s aviation will be based. This is why safety, punctuality and reducing the environmental impact continue to be the focus of skeyes’ efforts in order to ensure efficiency all along the line, provide the best service to its customers, fully assume its societal role and fulfil its general missions.

Punctuality: performance targets achieved

factors, some of which can be controlled by air navigation management (grouped under the acronym CRSTMP - C-Capacity, R-Routing, S-Staffing, T-Equipment, M-Airspace management, P-Special events) and some - such as the weather - that are beyond anyone’s control. Others are dependent on airport services. In all circumstances, in flight or on arrival at an airport, skeyes manages traffic in order to keep delays to a minimum and thus reduce costs for its customers, waiting times for passengers and the environmental impact.

As a member of FABEC, skeyes has to make a quantified individual contribution to FABEC’s overall performance in terms of en-route capacity as provided for in the performance plan for the 3rd reference period (2019-2024). Punctuality reflects the ability of an air navigation service provider to meet traffic demand. The indicator is the average en-route ATFM delay per flight for all causes. In addition, skeyes must also achieve a punctuality target for arrivals at Brussels National airport.

99,5%

of flights were managed in a punctual manner by skeyes in 2023.

Comparison of the average delay per flight in FABEC (all causes combined) with performance targets

Target (min/flight) Result (min/flight)

0,13

min/flight

= 7.8 seconds average en-route delay per flight

0,09

min/flight

= 5.4 seconds average en-route delay per flight

2,1

min/flight

= 126 seconds delay per flight

0,07min/flight

= 4.2 seconds average en-route delay per flight (CRSTMP causes) Effective en-route punctuality performance of skeyes taking into account only causes under skeyes’ control (CRSTMP).

Arrival delays at airports

To assess the performance of air navigation in terms of airport punctuality, only arrivals are taken into account. The timely departure of an aircraft is dependent on many other factors - such as ground services (baggage, refuelling, etc.) - which are beyond skeyes’ control, but which are coordinated with skeyes based on the Airport CDM (Collaborative Decision Making) concept through an information exchange application - AMS (Airport Movement System) - developed by skeyes.

Brussels Airport: punctuality that attracts

1,08

min/flight

= 64,8 seconds

Average arrival delay target for all causes assigned to skeyes for Brussels Airport and included in the FABEC performance plan. Brussels Airport is the only Belgian airport for which a punctuality performance target has been set.

0,43

min/flight

= 25,8 seconds average delay per flight on arrival at Brussels Airport for all causes.

Effective punctuality performance of skeyes at Brussels Airport. 92% of causes of delay at Brussels Airport are not due to skeyes’ actions. 44% of causes of delay are due to weather conditions at Brussels Airport.

0,04

min/flight

= 2,4 seconds

This is the average delay per arrival at Brussels Airport if only the causes that skeyes can control (CRSTMP) are taken into account. With its performance in terms of arrivals punctuality at Brussels Airport, skeyes is directly contributing to the attractiveness and development of the national airport and, more broadly, the Belgian economy.

Antwerp Airport

0

min/flight

= 0 seconds average delay per flight

Brussel South
Charleroi Airport

0,01

min/flight

= 0,6 seconds average delay per flight

Ostend-Bruges
Aiport

0,01

min/flight

= 0,6 seconds average delay per flight

Liege Airport

0,07

min/flight

= 4.2 seconds average delay per flight

Weather conditions are the sole cause of arrival delays at Liege Airport (100%)..

Comparison of arrival delays at Brussels Airport and at the large neighbouring airports (all causes combined).

Reducing the environmental impact of aviation

skeyes is very committed to reducing the environmental impact of aviation. Although the potential contribution of air traffic management to such a reduction is estimated at only 6%, each action helps the overall effort. To achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, skeyes has crafted its Environmental Action Plan, develops projects, tests and applies new procedures and works with its partners. All phases of a flight – ground movements, take-offs, en-route, approaches and landings – are targeted by these initiatives.

En-route: as close as possible to the ideal trajectory

Reducing the environmental impact of aviation is one of the objectives of the Single European Sky legislation. The FABEC performance plan therefore provides for a performance indicator that consists of measuring the horizontal efficiency of en-route flights (KEA – Key Performance Environment Indicator based on Actual trajectory). This indicator applies only to FABEC as a whole and compares the actual trajectory followed by an aircraft, the trajectory planned in the flight plan and the shortest route provided by the Network Manager (EUROCONTROL). The result is a score that corresponds to the horizontal inefficiency of the flights, i.e. a percentage deviation from the most environmentally friendly 'ideal' route.

3,59%

Actual horizontal inefficiency score of flights in FABEC in 2023.

FABEC is only just missing its very ambitious target, given the density of traffic to be managed and the complexity of its airspace..

96,41%

horizontal efficiency of flights in FABEC.

Most flights in FABEC follow the most ecological route.

Ground movements

Coordinating activities at the airport to effectively manage traffic flows also has a positive impact on fuel consumption and therefore on emissions, local air quality, noise and costs for airlines. Aircraft engines are started up at the right time and waiting times on taxiways are kept to a minimum.

Green landings (CDO - Continuous Descent Operations)

The approach phase is very fuel intensive. In a conventional approach, the aircraft descends in stages. To avoid stages and reduce aircraft consumption, controllers can manage air traffic so that aircraft can be landed using the Continuous Descent Operation (CDO) procedure. The CDO - also known as green landing - is an operation in which the aircraft descends continuously, employing minimum engine thrust to the greatest possible extent, depending on the characteristics of the flight and the air traffic situation. This enables a reduction in noise pollution, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Number of CDOs in absolute terms relative to number of arrivals in 2023

80%

80%

of landings followed the green landing procedure at Brussels Airport in 2023.

62%

62%

of landings followed the green landing procedure at Liege Airport in 2023.

72%

72%

of landings followed the green landing procedure at Brussels South Charleroi Airport in 2023

Cooperating at all levels for sustainable aviation

Collaborative Environmental Management (CEM)
skeyes cooperates with airlines and airports in order to take joint initiatives that reduce the environmental impact of airport operations.

Performance Based Navigation
Performance Based Navigation (PBN) is the future of air navigation. It is based on satellite technology while conventional air navigation is based on beacons and ground equipment. Satellite navigation enables aircraft to follow very precise point-to-point trajectories (waypoints) with expected benefits for safety, economic efficiency and, of course, the environment.

Putting safety at the forefront

Digital innovation in motion

In line with a sustainable future