EUROCONTROL aims at improving the design and use of the European routes. Inefficiencies in the design of airspace and use of the air route network are considered to be a major causal factor of flight inefficiencies in Europe. The European ATM system is the sum total of a large number of separate Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) whereas the US system is operated by a single ANSP. Airspace fragmentation following National Borders makes flight routes inefficient due to non requested air routes, flight time, excessive fuel burn, CO and NOx emissions. That is the reason why airspace and the fixed route network should be reorganised to satisfy airspace operator needs and maintain required safety levels.The focus of the paper is to show the differences between planned flights and actual trajectories in terms of flight distance, duration and fuel burn. In connection with this, an overview of these indicators in Europe and the USA was made.

Article in: English

Article published: 2016-02-03