LFV Annual report 2018 1
L F V 2018 DIRE C T OR ’ S REPOR T AIR TRAFFIC CO
NTINUES TO INCREASE TRAFFIC DISTRIBUTION (%) 18 In 2018, the number of aircraft movements in Swedish airspace increased by 3 percent, numbering just under 785,000, which is the greatest volume of traffic that has been handled in a single year. 45 37 Domestic International Overflights Overflights (traffic that does not take-off or land in Sweden) increased by 10 percent. International traffic increased by 1 percent, whilst domestic traffic decreased by just under 9 percent. The period of May–October saw peak traffic, with about 70,000 movements per month. April had the largest increase in traffic – about 7 percent. Overflight traffic accounts for just over 45 percent AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (thousands) 800 726 600 762 785 of the total traffic volume and has increased sharply throughout the year. There has also been a shift of traffic flows northwards over the Baltic Sea, which has resulted in longer distances flown through Swedish airspace. Airlines plan for the shortest route and minimum fuel consumption. LFV offers the airlines straight and efficient routes 400 200 through Sweden. This, together with a general upturn in air traffic, may explain why overflights across Sweden are increasing. In the long term, traffic is expected to continue to 0 2016 2017 2018 increase in Swedish airspace, although in a more moderate rate than in recent years. More flights with longer distances and heavier air - craft increased the number of service units – a combination of the number of flights, the aircraft’s weight and distance flown – by 5.6 percent. Service units are the basis for route charges – that is, the fee charged to airlines operating in the airspace. On 1 January 2018, Sweden lowered the route charge by 3.1 percent. Other air navigation service providers, authorities, and Swedish airports are also funded by route charges. In 2019, the charge will be reduced by a further 5.7 percent. Sweden's charge is slightly lower than the European average and level with Finland and many other countries in Western Europe. Unlike other countries, the Swedish charge also finances a large part of the local air navigation services at airports. The increased traffic also entails a large responsibility for LFV to provide aviation safety and work for sustainable air traffic with a reduced environmental impact. LFV accomplishes this primarily by working with free 22 route airspace and the shortest possible routes for takeoff and approach paths to and from airports. AN AIRSPACE WITHOUT BORDERS For a long time, the EU has had a vision of a borderless airspace – Single European Sky. In order to develop and streamline aviation, the focus is on collaboration between states. LFV has a far-reaching partnership with Naviair, which is LFV’s Danish counterpart, and carries out air navigation services in the common Danish-Swedish airspace through the jointly-owned company NUAC. LFV is also part of COOPANS, which is an alliance in which the air navigation services of six countries collaborate on the development and implementation of a common air traffic management system. Collaboration is also carried out through activities in the SESAR programme, which aims to streamline European air navigation services. AIR TRAFFIC DEVELOPMENT In the long-term forecast published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the annual number of air passengers worldwide is expected to double from today’s 4.1 billion to 8.2 billion by 2037. This forecast is based on the assumption of an annual growth of 3.5 per cent. Countries in South-East Asia are expected to account for the largest increase, with more than half of all new passengers. In China alone, the number of passengers is expected to increase from 600 million to 1.6 billion. For Europe, the forecast is an annual passenger increase of 2 percent, which would mean an increase from 1.3 to 1.9 billion passengers in 2037. THE SECURITY POLICY SITUATION The Swedish Armed Forces have in recent years redistributed their resources and efforts from focusing on peacekeeping activities abroad to a more domestic focus. For LFV, this means that the Swedish Armed Forces are requesting more reserve officers at the airports where LFV operates. Issues regarding contingencies and civil defence have increased in scope, and LFV participates in reviewing national defence. In its 2018 appropriation directions, LFV was commissioned to review the resources, skills, and equipment needed in order to achieve the new requirements that have been set.