Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) Toolkit: A Reference for Air Navigation Service Providers

Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) is a service designed to ensure the safe, orderly, and efficient flow of air traffic by optimising Air Traffic Control (ATC) capacity utilisation and aligning air traffic demand with available resources. ATFM plays a critical role in maintaining safety within Air Traffic Management (ATM) operations, particularly during periods of high traffic volume or when capacity disruptions occur.

To balance air traffic demand and ATC capacity across the ATM network, ATFM Managers have a range of solutions available to them. Broadly speaking, effective ATFM Managers prioritise solutions that increase or optimise the use of available capacity wherever possible, thereby minimising delays for airspace users and preventing disruption to aerodrome and network operations. These solutions are known as Capacity Optimisation Activities.

This document therefore provides ATFM Managers with an inventory of potential ATFM solutions available for use, along with detailed descriptions, application criteria, and guidance for implementing them under varying operational conditions.