Route Optimisation trials show significant benefits

The early results from four End-to-End Route Optimisation trials in Latin America and Caribbean are showing significant savings in time, fuel, and carbon emissions.

Carried out by the CANSO ATFM Data Exchange Network for the Americas, CADENA, as a Planned Airway System Alternative (PASA) initiative, the trials were run for 90 days in the second half of 2021 and involved one aircraft from one airline on each of the selected routes.

Over the course of the trials, each aircraft produced significant savings and showed how those savings could be projected, per aircraft, over the course of a year. Here’s how each performed:

Atlanta – Lima – Atlanta:  9 July – 7 October 2021

Savings                        90 Day                          One Year

Flight minutes                515                               2,089

Fuel (lb)                         145,425                        589,779

CO2 (kg)                        208,445                        845,360

Ops Cost ($)                  94,693                          384, 033      

Atlanta – Buenos Aires – Atlanta:  27 July – 25 October 2021

Savings                        90 Day                          One Year

Flight minutes                235                                1,175 

Fuel (lb)                         62,035                           310,175          

CO2 (kg)                        88,918                           444,590           

Ops Cost ($)                  41,925                           209,625 

Port of Spain-Miami-Port of Spain: 6 August – 3 November 2021

Savings                        90 Day                          One Year

Flight minutes                256                               1,038

Fuel (lb)                         46,780                          189,719    

CO2 (kg)                        67.052                          271,934        

Ops Cost ($)                  39,494                          160,170

Houston-Puerto Vallarta-Houston: 1 September – 27 November 2021

Savings                        90 Day                          One Year

Flight minutes                558                               2,263

Fuel (lb)                         52,841                          214,300

CO2 (kg)                        75,740                          307,168     

Ops Cost ($)                  72,993                          296, 027

Because of their success, the use of the trial-completed routes have now been extended for one year. Airlines can continue to use these routes and benefit from operational savings until these routes are published in Aeronautical Information Circulars or Publications (AIC, AIP). The trials involved coordination with a range of stakeholders including airlines, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) of the States along each route, and regional aviation bodies.

Javier Vanegas, CANSO’s Director of Latin America and Caribbean Affairs, said: “The development and execution of the CIIFRA project shows that any change, big or small, can bring extraordinary results. The savings and CO2 reduction we’ve seen so far are remarkable and demonstrate the aviation community's commitment to a sustainable industry.

“The success of the trials has encouraged other airlines to submit more optimised proposals for testing and the CIIFRA project team is now working with States and ANSPs to publish the already tested optimised routes within their AIPs.

“We are encouraged by these developments, and sharing knowledge and developing best practices always makes our industry stronger.”

This PASA End-to-End Route Optimisation trials led the LAC region to move towards the regional Free Route Airspace. The CANSO ICAO IATA Free Route Airspace (CIIFRA) team has been formed to make regional Free Route Airspace a reality.