The new air traffic management system is designed so that Naviair will continue to have the technical capacity to keep up with the increasing air traffic in Denmark. However, during the initial period when the new system is in operation, the capacity will temporarily be lower than the demand. As published prior to the implementation of the new ATM system,  Naviair expected to be back to normal capacity no later than the end of March 2008.

How are we doing?

There has been air traffic delays during the running-in period, just as expected. Our simulations prior to December 2007 showed, that there were risks of delays up to one hour in high traffic load periods. The actual delays is parallel to our expectations. However, some transit flights from north heading south have been avoiding Danish Airspace at e.g. peakhours. Furthermore, Naviair regrets to admit, that domestic flight have experienced accumulations of air traffic delays, if the flight were delayed even from the morning. Naviair co-operates with the companies on daily basis to minimize the risk of air traffic delays.

Planned and revised plan for ATC Capacity
(As of 18 March 2008)

(schematic)

> Download rev. plan for capacity in PDF

> Download original plan of capacity 

 
For Naviair, it has been an important criterion for success to be able to deliver the capacity that was planned and announced ahead of the implementation of the new air traffic management system. However, there have been more system faults and inconveniences than expected, entailing, for safety reasons, a postponement of the capacity increase that was scheduled for the middle of February. With the gradual increase since the 5 March 2008, the capacity is now again in line with the lower end of the announced capacity plan.

The 13 March 2008 the new system was upgraded with a new software version, and the result from this upgrade seems promising. Further technical improvements and error corrections in the system have been agreed with the supplier and will be carried out and evaluated continuously towards middle of April. The expected effect from the technical improvements is the precondition as regards air traffic safety for Naviair to be able to gradually increase the ATC capacity.

This means that we will probably reach normal capacity level in the middle of April, 2-3 weeks later than originally scheduled.  

PR & Communications, 18 March 2008