The ANTICIPATE project is providing valuable insights in how to optimise air traffic capacity within the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) zone. A recent analysis, using AIRAC data from July 2024, revealed key insights into mitigating unnecessary air traffic control (ATC) capacity regulations by better utilising available spare capacity.

The results of this study show:

• 7,696 flights were delayed across 1,330 sectors due to ATC capacity regulations.
• 122 sectors were regulated due to ATC-capacity constraints.
• 97% of over-capacity sectors had enough adjacent spare capacity to minimize ATC-capacity regulations.

These findings underscore the potential for improving air traffic management by utilising existing capacity more efficiently. By minimising unnecessary regulations, the project aims to enhance the performance of European airspace, reduce delays, and support sustainable ATM strategies.

ANTICIPATE’s findings were shared at the SESAR JU Annual Conference 2025, where industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders expressed strong interest in the project’s outcomes. The conference provided a valuable platform to further discuss how these insights can be integrated into broader airspace management strategies.