MUAC delivers consistently strong performance during busy summer

The EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) today reported that it safely controlled 842,259 flights from May to September 2026, delivering improved operational efficiency as traffic levels remained broadly in line with 2025. 

Commenting on MUAC’s summer performance Peggy Devestel, Director of MUAC, said: “I am very pleased with our performance this summer. Safely managing up to 5,600 flights every day, while maintaining a strong focus on efficiency, is the result of careful planning and close coordination, combined with the professionalism and dedication of our highly skilled team and the reliability of our technical systems. Once again, the MUAC Team has demonstrated its ability to deliver safe, efficient and reliable services to all our airspace users during the busiest time of the year.”

Summer highlights
Throughout the summer, 98.4% of flights through MUAC airspace experienced no MUAC-attributable delay, while the vast majority of those that did were delayed by less than 15 minutes. When compared with summer 2025, total MUAC-attributable delay was reduced by more than half. 

This was achieved through effective pre-tactical and tactical traffic management, as well as optimised distribution of traffic across MUAC’s airspace resulting from the implementation of the summer plan in close coordination with the EUROCONTROL Network Manager. Efficient workforce planning and generally favourable weather conditions also contributed to this performance. The current expectation therefore is to end the year well within the EU-driven performance target for delay.

July was the busiest month, with 174,056 flights, while the busiest day of the year was recorded on 10 September, when 5,619 flights were safely controlled. No significant (severity A or B) safety events were recorded to date, continuing the trend of recent years. 

Strong technical performance and system availability provided a reliable foundation for operations throughout the summer. The use of datalink (CPDLC* and ADS-C*) between controllers and pilots contributed to operational efficiency, with log-on rates among airspace users reaching up to 80%. This contributes to MUAC's ability to safely and efficiently deliver the required capacity in its airspace.

In addition, by offering airlines more direct routeings through its ATM Portal, MUAC enabled an estimated CO₂ reduction of 511,607 kg during the peak travel season. 

Strengthening MUAC’s air traffic controller pipeline  
The summer also marked significant milestones in MUAC’s student air traffic controller training programme. Student air traffic controllers continued to make strong progress through initial training, reflecting the effectiveness of the optimised training programme developed in close cooperation with GATE Aviation Training in Copenhagen. Together with MUAC’s in-house pre-transition training, this continued progress provides further confidence in the training pathway and supports MUAC’s long-term plans to maintain a sufficient air traffic controller workforce to meet future demand.  

Prospective applicants who are interested in becoming the next generation of MUAC’s air traffic controllers are invited to review the full details and to apply here: atco.eurocontrol.int. All other career opportunities are available here: All opportunities – EUROCONTROL Job Portal