The ACE benchmarking project analyses the cost-effectiveness and productivity of 38 European Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) in Europe. It examines both individual ANSPs and the Pan-European ATM/CNS system as a whole.
In addition to the publication of interim and final annual reports, an interactive dashboard containing the whole ACE data (2002-2023) has been developed. It enables the aviation community to build customised views on ANSPs economic performance.
High-level summary report on preliminary ACE 2024 data (December 2025)
This report is based on the 2024 data submitted by ANSPs in July 2025. It should be noted that the data presented in this document are still preliminary and not yet fully validated. The final ACE benchmarking report will provide more detailed information on observed changes for selected performance indicators both at pan-European system level and at ANSP level.
€469
(-1.4% vs 2023)
ATM/CNS provision costs per composite flight-hour
€314
(-1.6% vs 2023)
Support costs per composite flight-hour
€152
(+3.9% vs 2023)
ATCO employment costs per ATCO-hour
0.98
(+4.8% vs 2023)
ATCO-hour productivity
ATM/CNS provision costs per composite flight-hour decreased by -1.4% in 2024, remaining slightly below their pre-crisis level. This improvement reflects the fact that traffic rose faster (+5.5%) than ATM/CNS provision costs (+4.0%), with both metrics exceeding 2019 levels for the first time since the COVID-19 crisis.
The increase in ATM/CNS provision costs (+€405M) was mainly driven by higher staff costs (+€271M), non-staff operating costs (+€90M) and depreciation costs (+€88M), while the cost of capital declined (-€74M). This reflects a general trend, as costs rose for 33 out 38 ANSPs in 2024.
ATM/CNS staff numbers grew by +2.8% (+1 478 FTEs) compared to 2023, surpassing the 2019 level by +2.0%. Both ATCOs in OPS and support staff were +2.0% higher than in 2019.
ANSP balance sheets in 2024 comprised some €10.3 billion in capital and reserves and €5.5 billion in borrowings, while capital expenditure reached €1.5 billion. Capital and reserves increased by +8% (+€0.8 billion), while the level of indebtedness continued to decline, falling by -10% (-€0.6 billion).
However, improvements in terms of ATM/CNS provision cost-effectiveness were offset by a deterioration in service quality, measured by gate-to-gate ATFM delays.
Indeed, gate-to-gate ATFM delays in 2024 reached 29.6 million minutes, resulting in an estimated cost of €3.9 billion on airspace users, the highest level ever recorded. This figure represents more than one-third of ATM/CNS provision costs and surpasses total ATCO in OPS employment costs at the Pan-European system level (€3.5 billion).
ACE Report - Table of contents
Executive summary
- Introduction
Main Chapters:
- Overview of the Pan-European ANS system
- Financial cost-effectiveness performance
- Economic cost-effectiveness analysis
- Forward-looking cost-effectiveness (2024-2028)
- Financial indicators calculated from ANSPs’ financial statements
Annexes
- ANNEX 1 – Status of ANSPs 2023 Annual Reports
- ANNEX 2 – Performance indicators used for the comparison of ANSPs
- ANNEX 3 – Performance ratios
- ANNEX 4 – Exchange rates, inflation rates and purchasing power parities (PPPS) data
- ANNEX 5 – Key data
- ANNEX 6 – Performance indicators at FAB level
- Glossary
ACE Handbook
Learn about the scope of the ACE analysis, the processes involved in the production of the report, the factors affecting performance and the indicators used in the ACE analysis.
ANSPs factsheets and individual summary reports
Access information on individual ANSPs institution arrangements, legal status, corporate governance structure, scope of services, etc.
Access information on individual ANSPs cost-effectiveness performance (2018-2023), comparison with peers and historical information on capital investments projects.
