SW axis and suspended flights
Hello all!
A genuine question to try to get to the bottom of a problem:
As many of you are aware there is a SW axis teleconference between AOs, FMPs, CFMU and other interested parties.
They come up with a plan to force certain flows of traffic through areas of lower demand. The objective is to reduce the overall delay and to maximise available capacity.
We force certain flows of traffic on to these new routes by effectively banning them from the busy routes.
We do this by using "zero rate" regulations. These regulations "suspend" the affected flights.
Now, the details of the flows affected are published in the Network Brief distributed by NMC (pretactical) and available on the Eurocontrol website. They are also sent out as an AIM in the form of the "Network News"
Additionally they are published in the ANM with a description of which flights are affected and where they should refile.
My question is this:
With all this pre-notification and involvement of those concerned, why do some AOs still wait until their flights are suspended (2 hours before EOBT) before re-routeing ? These flights are then treated as late filers or late updaters and inevitably receive disproportionately higher delays than those who have done their flight planning in good time.
I know BA arrange all their SW axis flights immediately after the SW axis teleconference on Friday. So it is possible.
Any feedback will be welcome, maybe we can change things here to help out.
Awaiting incoming.........
flowman