21 June 2024: The Single European Sky (SES) ATM Performance Scheme is a regulatory instrument through which the European Commission drives improvements in air traffic management performance, implemented over Reference Periods typically of a duration of five years.

Each Reference Period is associated with rules and targets that refer to the four key performance areas (KPAs) covering safety, environment, airspace capacity and cost efficiency, with the targets being set ahead of the start of each Reference Period.

The 4^th Reference Period (RP4) of the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management (ATM) Performance Scheme will begin on 1 January 2025.

Following a period of stakeholder consolation and technical workshops, the targets for RP4 have now been adopted. These can be summarised as follows:

Safety

• ANSPs to achieve at least level C in the safety management objectives ‘safety culture’, ‘safety policy and objectives’, ‘safety assurance’ and ‘safety promotion’ by end 2029.
• ANSPs to achieve at least level D in safety management objective ‘safety risk management’

Environment (actual additional distance flown compared to great circle distance)

• Shall not exceed the following percentages: 2.8% (2025), 2.75% (2026), 2.71% (2027), 2.68% (2028) and 2.66% in 2029

Capacity (average delay per flight attributable to European network air traffic services)

• 0.9min (2025), 0.7min (2026), 0.6min (2027), 0.5 min (2028 & 2029)

Cost efficiency (year on year change of average union wide determined unit cost against baseline of €55.07)

• -1.2% reduction per year 2025-2029

Further key performance indicators will be monitored (see below) with a view to be integrated in RP5.

To access the full implemention decision, please click here [1].