FABEC Campaign Targets Flight Plan Adherence to Unlock Capacity and Stabilise Summer Traffic

The Functional Airspace Block Europe Central (FABEC) will jointly launch a Flight Plan Adherence (FPA) campaign from 1 June to 31 October 2026, to improve predictability, optimise capacity use, and enhance overall network stability across one of Europe’s busiest airspaces.

The main focus of FPA is to improve planning reliability and traffic load predictability. Through this campaign, FABEC aims to increase network stability and to demonstrate how much capacity is lost due to non-compliance with flight plans (so-called ghost demand and reduced predictability). With traffic levels expected to remain high in summer 2026, to help improve predictability is critical to avoid unnecessary delays and maximise available capacity.

While the service-oriented approach remains highly valued, and Air Traffic Controllers often focus on improving individual flights, this campaign aims to highlight the benefits for the system as a whole.

In general, FPA makes traffic handling more efficient across the network by avoiding short-term optimisations that increase workload for downstream sectors. When flights follow their filed flight plans, ATM systems can better predict aircraft trajectories and sector demand. Fewer tactical deviations therefore contribute significantly to network stability.

The main benefits of FPA are:
1. More accurate sector traffic counts, allowing better use of capacity
2. More reliable application of Network Manager measures (e.g. regulations, scenarios)
3. Fewer tactical interventions, enabling better ATCO workload planning

Flight plan adherence requires coordinated action from all stakeholders, including airspace users and ANSPs, each contributing to improved predictability.

The EUROCONTROL Network Manager says: “Flight plan adherence is a key driver for improving predictability and stabilising the European network, especially in the FABEC area, whose members handle some of the highest traffic volumes in Europe. NM thanks FABEC partners for leading this coordinated campaign in support of safer, more efficient and more resilient network operations co-ordinated as part of the EUROCONTROL Network Manager #thinkNetwork campaign.”

Niels Lokman, Chairman of the FABEC Standing Committee Environmentally Sustainable Operations and Head of Operations at the EUROCONTROL Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) says: "Improving flight plan adherence is an important step in unlocking additional capacity and enhancing operational performance across Europe. FABEC’s collaborative campaign will support improved traffic predictability in the interest of helping to optimise capacity in one of Europe's busiest airspace areas."