Working Group on Air Transport Statistics s1

1. Opening address

Mrs. Ruxandra Roman-Enescu, Head of Unit E3-Transport, welcomed the participants and opened the meeting.

2. Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was approved without changes.

3.1 ESS VISION 2020

Eurostat underlined the need to modernise the ESS in order to face new challenges and informed countries on the main aspects of the ESS Vision 2020 and in particular:

Ø  ESS Committee agreement reached on 15th May 2014

Ø  Main drivers/strategic aims and objectives of the Vision

Ø  The five priority areas, namely: users, quality, new data sources, production process and dissemination

Ø  The implementation ways for achieving Vision goals

Ø  Portfolio prioritisation and governance

Ø  Link with air transport statistics: use of Big Data (Amadeus type) to produce true Origin/Destination statistics

3.2 Developments in Community aviation policy

DG MOVE reported the objectives of the new Commission, and presented the BULC's program for European Aviation. DG MOVE reminded Directorate E’s core tasks and the related data needs for policy making purposes - airline information (at least EU/non-EU breakdown), true O/D data, transfer passenger and safety related data. At the end of the presentation, the ongoing service contracts were shown to the participants.

DG MOVE confirmed that data were obtained from Eurocontrol through the “Statistics and forecasts” portal.

Eurocontrol also mentioned that a second portal, namely “network operations”, also exists on Eurocontrol website.

Conclusions:

DG MOVE has informed countries on the new Commission's objectives and the ongoing data needs.

DG MOVE underlined once more the crucial role of statistics in supporting policy making and decisions.

4. Data reception and dissemination status

Eurostat informed the participants about the progress made in aviation statistics since the last Working Group meeting in terms of data treatment and dissemination. Reference was made to data collection and processing, as well as methodological and codification issues. A few issues still show room for improvement, namely the use of wrong codes, the unit to be used when reporting freight and mail data (tonnes) as well as remaining problems for seats available. The participants were also informed about the ICAO code lists made available by Eurostat to the countries on a regular basis for codes verification purposes. Eurostat concluded the presentation with data dissemination, especially underlining the latest data available in Statistics Explained articles and in the air transport section of Eurobase.

Eurostat thanked the participants for the good compliance with the Regulation and the close cooperation with Eurostat. It was underlined that the good timeliness observed for data delivery has allowed the dissemination of an article on air transport statistics based on very recent reference periods.

Conclusions:

The Working Group took note of the data reception status which shows a very good compliance with the legal obligations.

Eurostat has shown specific issues (codification, seats available and unit for freight and mail) detected during data treatment and encouraged countries to pay particular attention to these topics.

Eurostat congratulated countries on their continuous efforts to provide the requested information.

5. Evolution of air transport data collection and data processing

5.1 Quality improvements in freight and passenger data

Eurostat presented the results of the quality checks performed on the basis of the latest data delivery. The current set of quality checks has been shown to the participants, together with a data quality assessment of recent data provisions. A proposal of development of the set of missing routes checks has been submitted to the participants (extension of the missing routes checks to statistics on freight and mail transport), and the most problematic data quality issues currently observed have been identified and presented with potential ways of enhancing quality. Eurostat also showed how the outcomes of the exchanges with the countries as regards quality aspects are used as input for the creation of metadata, and suggested the implementation of Country Specific Notes (CSNs) for air transport statistics. Finally, the presentation was concluded by showing the results of a benchmarking exercise produced by Eurostat, comparing data provided by the reporting countries to ICAO statistics.

The participants welcomed the proposal of extension of the missing routes checks to freight and mail transport statistics, and showed interest in the outcomes of such analysis. Based on the countries’ comments, Eurostat decided to implement such checks for future data provisions applying the threshold proposed (e.g. routes with more than 50 tonnes annually): an assessment of data quality for such statistics will be carried out during the next meeting of the Working Group.

The countries also agreed with the proposal of implementing Country Specific Notes to complement the existing set of metadata available for air transport statistics, recognising the added-value of such methodological notes. A participant pointed out that methodological specificities may not necessarily concern all reporting airports of a reporting country, but could also be very specific (for instance, methodological specificities could affect specific reporting airport(s) only). Following the green light given by the participants, Eurostat decided to start preparing the set of Country Specific Notes: it will be submitted to each reporting country individually for comments before dissemination online.

Conclusions:

Eurostat has informed countries on the various quality checks performed (a set of 5 checks for each country, mirror and missing routes checks and comparison with other sources). Main quality issues have been presented to the countries (e.g. incorrect reporting of multi-stage flights, wrong partner airport code attribution, identification of freight forwarded by trucks, etc...).

Eurostat has put forward the following proposals:

Ø  Development of "missing routes" checks for freight and mail statistics, with a threshold of 50 tonnes annually

Ø  Produce "Country Specific Notes" and attach them to the Eurobase metadata

The Working Group agreed with both proposals and the threshold; countries commented that any mean to give indication on quality is important.

The draft Country Specific Notes produced by Eurostat will be sent to countries for comments/approval before publication.

5.2 Transfer passenger data collection

Eurostat reminded the participants on the context of the collection of transfer passengers data, as well as the revised structure of dataset C1 including transfer passengers data to be provided on a voluntary basis. The current status of transfer passengers data provision has been shown to the participants, and, given the satisfactory availability of such data, a proposal of data dissemination in Eurobase has been made to the Working Group (e.g. to include transfer passengers statistics in the existing dissemination table “Airport traffic data by reporting airport and airlines (avia_tf_apal)”).

Several countries mentioned issues for the compilation of transfer passengers data (such as the need for the implementation of a new IT system, thresholds to be applied for data collection) while others indicated that they were able to provide such data since recently.

Bilateral discussions will take place between Eurostat and countries not able to provide such information in order to investigate how the situation can be enhanced.

As concerns the dissemination of data on transfer passengers, the participants agreed with the proposals, pointing out that some countries were already disseminating such data at national level (not covering all airports).

A country informed that data on transfer passengers being compiled from several data sources, they could not be made available earlier than nine months after the end of the reference period (e.g. the 6 months delay defined for the transmission of dataset C1 in the legal basis cannot be reached for statistics on transfer passengers).

Eurostat reminded that this data collection is currently aimed for large airports only: the first goal is to obtain data for a larger number of countries before envisaging lowering the thresholds applicable for data provision. Nevertheless, countries that are able to provide data for an extended set of reporting airports (e.g. covering smaller airports) without a major additional burden are welcome to provide such statistics to Eurostat. Methodological specificities regarding data compilation or timeliness at country level should be included in the new set of Country Specific Notes dedicated to air transport.

Conclusions:

Based on a previous decision of the Working Group to collect (on a voluntary basis) data on transfer passengers, Eurostat proposed to disseminate the information (good quality data available already from 2/3 of the countries).

Eurostat encouraged the remaining countries to provide the information.

Participants to the Working Group have agreed to publish the data in the air transport section of Eurobase in the format proposed by Eurostat.

5.3 Data transmission and validation (SDMX)

Eurostat presented the background of the implementation of the SDMX format for air transport statistics, and indicated that countries using this format recorded a significant reduction in the number of incorrect codes compared to former data transmission in flat files. Eurostat also showed how to use the converter and the expected results in terms of file format.

A participant reported issues with the installation of the SDMX converter. Generally speaking, reporting countries facing problems with the converter should contact Eurostat to obtain support in this matter.

Another participant highlighted the need for a small modification in the IT procedure for the generation of the input file for the converter, in order to follow the SDMX standard structure.

Finally, a reporting country confirmed the efficiency of the tool and added that the current documentation made available by Eurostat allows a smooth technical implementation of the SDMX converter tool.

Conclusions:

Eurostat updated the participants on the main SDMX components and advantages of this data format. Approximately half of the countries are providing SDMX air transport datasets.

Eurostat underlined the important reduction of errors when using this format. Eurostat also explained the use of the converter from csv/txt to SDMX file. Eurostat encouraged countries to get in contact in case of technical issues.

5.4 Reference Manual

Eurostat presented the last update of the Reference Manual on air transport statistics made available in January 2015, and indicated to the participants that the next issue of this manual will be disseminated in January 2016. Information on the collection of data on transfer passengers has already been included in the manual, and further explanations will be added in the next version of the manual.

Eurostat also reminded the participants about the ongoing written procedure aiming at gathering information that will be used as input for the update of Part II of the Reference Manual. Eurostat thanked countries having already provided answers and pointed out that feedback was expected by the 15th May 2015.

A participating country said that identifying changes between versions as well as indicating the version number on each page of the Reference Manual would be very useful for users. Moreover, the status of the Reference Manual compared to the legal act may need to be clarified, especially as regards optional/mandatory data provisions.

Conclusions:

The Working Group took note of the regular updates of the Reference Manual, as well of the ongoing written consultation on national methodologies with deadline 15th May 2015.

Eurostat underlined the need for adding information on "transfer passengers" methodology/methods/compilation in the Reference Manual.

Eurostat took note of the proposals for improving the manual.

6 Air transport safety and voluntary data collection

6.1 Safety project

Eurostat informed the participants on the recent progress made in the frame of the transport safety project, with a specific focus on aviation-related data. New Eurobase dissemination tables prepared in cooperation with EASA have been shown to the participants, and some figures on safety in air transport for both commercial and general aviation have been highlighted. These tables will soon become available online after final checks and the finalisation of the related metadata. These new data will be used as input for the preparation of a Statistics Explained article that will show time series from 1990 onwards with a focus on 2013 data for the individual aviation categories.

EASA thanked Eurostat for the good cooperation in this matter, and hoped that such data could be useful for reporting countries and for policy making purposes.

Eurostat also reminded that the aim of this cooperation was to avoid additional burden and double work for the reporting countries by using existing data collected by EASA. Eurostat also stressed the importance of having similar indicators for all transport modes, with the aim to hopefully be able to make comparisons across transport modes in the future. Eurostat pointed out that the cooperation with DGMOVE will go on in this matter.

A reporting country indicated that although publishing similar data for other modes of transport, it might be difficult to compile time series from 1990 onwards for air transport. Eurostat reminded that only data collected by EASA are used (no burden for the reporting countries in terms of data transmission to Eurostat). Eurostat will in the metadata files present the methodology used by EASA and applied by the reporting countries.

Conclusions:

Eurostat informed the Working Group on the latest developments of the safety project on all transport modes (aim of this project is to use existing data and avoid double reporting).

More details were provided for the air part where Eurostat has recently signed an agreement with EASA for receiving accidents data.

Four new Eurobase tables on air accidents (covering commercial, aerial work and general aviation) are ready to be published.

6.2 Voluntary data collection

Eurostat presented the latest developments as regards the questionnaire on air transport statistics. The context and coverage of the questionnaire were shown, as well as the data sources used by Eurostat for the prefilling exercise (figures to be validated/completed by the countries), and the related dissemination tables in Eurobase. Due to poor data availability, several variables were proposed to be removed from the questionnaire (the removal of some of them was submitted for discussion).

The simplification of the questionnaire proposed by Eurostat was generally welcomed by the reporting countries. Several participants indicated that they were not in a position to provide data for variables submitted to discussion for removal from the questionnaire, and that they were thus in favour of taking them out from the questionnaire.