CAA Efficiency

The efficiency of the CAA’s primary services, i.e. airports and air navigation, is measured by comparing personnel working years against accomplished tasks. The efficiency of CAA activities measured as passenger numbers versus accomplished working years improved by 4.3 % in 2005 over 2004 (9.8 % in 2004 over 2003). On the other hand, the number of flights per staff working year remained unchanged; the improvement was 0.3 % (9.1 % in 2004 over 2003).

Airport service costs – maintenance and capital costs – rose by a moderate 0.5 % in 2005 compared with 2004 (4.8 %). Operating costs increased by 2.5 % whereas capital costs declined. Since the number of passengers increased by 3.6 % this meant that the unit performance cost decreased by 3.0 % (4.9 %).

The cost of air navigation services rose by 6.3 % in 2005 compared with 2004 (7.8 %). This was caused by an increase in capital costs, since the depreciations for the Eurocat air navigation system were applied to the whole year for the first time. Since the number of flights remained the same as for 2004, it meant that the unit performance cost rose by 6,7 % (-2.1 %).

In the latest comparison of cost-effectiveness in the air navigation sector published by Eurocontrol for 2003, the CAA again came among the top ten most efficient service providers. The comparison looked at more than 30 Eurocontrol countries and assessed the cost-effectiveness (costs per flight hour) of both flight path services and airport air navigation services. A study based on 2004 data will be published in late spring 2006.

Service efficiency can also be measured by comparing service costs at different airports. In these international comparisons, the CAA and especially Helsinki- Vantaa Airport rank among the cheapest airports in Europe.