Latest FAA/European Benchmark Report

The 2024 report is a joint publication of the Air Traffic Organization System Operations Services of FAA and EUROCONTROL on behalf of the European Union.  It is the 8th in a series of ATM operational comparisons that have been performed since 2009.  It is the first to contain comparisons for both Operational and Cost-Efficiency Performance. It is also the first full report to benchmark these comparisons for conditions prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic (2019) with operations in 2022 when both systems show recovery towards Pre-Pandemic levels. Monthly Operational Performance trends are shown through July of 2023 and Cost-Efficiency trends are shown through 2021.  The report provides demonstrated examples of the Performance Indicators listed in the ICAO Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP).  For more information, please contact: John Gulding, in the FAA Office of Performance Analysis.

2024 Comparison of Air Traffic Management-Related Operational Performance: U.S./Europe. 
The report details the significant changes that occurred through the Covid-19 Pandemic and subsequent recovery.  This US continues to operate delay management on a more tactical basis with only 3 schedule limited airports.  The US, with its higher volume relative to capacity and reliance on Traffic Flow Management, experiences much higher surface delay than Europe. Europe operates more schedule limited airports and experiences more delay in the en-route phase, which requires the coordination of 36 different Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). Using harmonized metrics, the report provides performance trends for Air Traffic Management Delay, Punctuality and Flight Efficiency. This joint report also includes Cost-Efficiency comparisons for Cost per Flight Hour, Flight Hours per Controller and overall Productivity.  The report uses Purchasing Power Parity conversions as the best means of facilitating cost comparisons.

International benchmarking provides ANSPs a live test bed for assessing how ATC systems may perform if traffic, operating procedures, demand management policy or technology evolve in a way that can be compared to other parts of the world. The benchmark report combines elements integral to the European Performance Scheme as well as measures utilized by FAA management. Although regions of the world have differences in traffic volume or operating conditions, these reports demonstrate it is possible to converge on common measures that allow for fact-driven comparisons of aviation performance at a global level.

Report archive.

2017 Comparison of Air Traffic Management-Related Operational Performance: U.S./Europe
This report provides EU/US trends in aviation performance through calendar years 2015-17. The performance review covers similar geographical areas with the US controlling approximately 50% more flights with approximately 40% less staff. Europe experienced more delay in the en-route phase, which requires the coordination of 37 different Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). US traffic continued to grow in congested areas while runway construction was underway at several key airports. Using harmonized metrics, the report provides performance trends for Air Traffic Management Delay, Punctuality and Flight Efficiency, which reflect the effects of traffic growth, weather and runway construction. The FAA supports this effort to compare air navigation systems as the results are critical to the FAA maintaining global leadership and achieving U.S. aviation goals.

The value of international benchmarking is the ability to provide ANSPs a live test bed for assessing how ATC systems may perform if traffic, operating procedures, demand management policy or technology evolve in a way that can be compared to other parts of the world. The benchmark report combines elements integral to the European Performance Scheme as well as measures utilized by FAA management. Although regions of the world have differences in traffic volume or operating conditions, these reports demonstrate it is possible to converge on common measures that allow for fact-driven comparisons of aviation performance at a global level.

2015 Comparison of Air Traffic Management-Related Operational Performance: U.S./Europe
This report provides EU/US trends in aviation performance through calendar year 2015 highlighting changes that have occurred since 2013. These include the effects of construction, increases in demand at key facilities as well as areas where overall delay due to traffic management initiatives has decreased. The report introduces two new EU/US initiatives that track changes in the vertical descent profile and key characteristics of traffic management initiatives such as their frequency, duration and number of flights affected

2013 Comparison of Air Traffic Management-Related Operational Performance: U.S./Europe
Provides EU/US trends in aviation performance through calendar year 2013. This report adds a trajectory efficiency indicator for filed flight plans as well as more detailed indicators for ATM imposed delay. The report tracks thunderstorm and winter operations for the US and the subsequent impact on performance.