Data-driven management of scarce capacity
Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL) plays a vital role in Dutch aviation. As an independent slot coordinator, ACNL is responsible for the fair and transparent allocation of scarce take-off and landing rights at Dutch airports. This requires precision, consistent application of regulations, and clear accountability toward various stakeholders.
ACNL has a clear understanding of the insights required. The challenge does not lie in formulating the right questions, but in organizing them in practice: how do you ensure that large volumes of data are reliably unlocked, consistently analyzed, and made available in reports and dashboards that are actually used?
From focused questions to a coherent whole
In recent years, CQM has supported ACNL through a series of targeted projects. Not a large transformation program, but a pragmatic collaboration in which insight and structure were built step by step. Today, this consists of multiple projects, complemented by a structural maintenance budget that ACNL uses flexibly for new questions, adjustments, and further refinements.
The projects are closely connected in content and share a common objective: turning data into actionable insights that support execution, monitoring, and accountability. In the context of slot coordination, this is no simple task. The complexity arises from a combination of factors: multiple data sources, differing interests of airlines, and strict regulations regarding noise limits and flight movements — with a distinction between day and night operations. ACNL aims not only to comply with regulations, but also to proactively manage transparency and consistency.
A selection of the solutions developed jointly by CQM and ACNL:
- PRAAC tool: The Policy Rule Additional Allocation Criteria determines, based on seven objective criteria, which slot applications receive priority when newly available slots are allocated. CQM professionalized this process by translating the prioritization rules into a robust Python application. The result is a solution that is less error-prone, faster, and more reproducible — essential during peak allocation periods.
- Dashboards for reporting and insight: Three reports — the Weekly Report, Start of Season Report, and Milestone Report — unlock complex datasets in an accessible way. They provide insight into slot developments per airline, enable comparison with previous seasons, and are partly publicly available.
- Monitoring day/night movements: This dashboard shows the expected number of flight movements per season, split between day and night. By defining scenarios, ACNL can assess whether intervention is required to remain within permitted limits.
- Detection of off-slot patterns: In line with European regulations, this dashboard automatically identifies structural deviations from allocated slots. This allows slot coordinators to focus their time on assessment and follow-up.
Each of these solutions is actively used in ACNL’s daily operations: as a decision-support tool, as a communication instrument toward stakeholders, and as a foundation for accountability.
Clear roles, short lines of communication
The collaboration is characterized by a clear division of roles. ACNL provides sharp content direction regarding the questions to be answered and the context in which the answers are used. CQM delivers the analytical implementation: structuring data, building reports, and ensuring consistent and reproducible insights.
Hugo Thomassen, Managing Director at ACNL: "When you have a large volume of data, you can derive many insights from it. But it can be quite complex, and that is where CQM helps us. Their knowledge of Operations Research and their reliability truly make the difference."
Through close collaboration, solutions align not only technically, but also in terms of content and process with ACNL’s way of working.
A collaboration that continues to deliver
What makes the collaboration with ACNL distinctive is the combination of mutual trust, domain knowledge, and technical depth. With expertise in Data Science, Optimization, and Statistics, CQM provides valuable support in issues where regulation, stakeholder interests, and technology intersect.
Alle Lenoir, Airport Slot Coordinator at ACNL:
"CQM helps us make complexity manageable. They ensure our data truly delivers value. We enjoy working with them because they move quickly, keep their commitments, and bring exactly the niche expertise required to translate regulation into clear, applicable analyses."
With each new question, the collaboration deepens further. Thanks to short communication lines and a strong understanding of both data and context, CQM can move quickly and structurally contribute to data-driven decision-making within aviation.
Curious what such a collaboration could mean for your organization?
Share your challenge with us. Contact Daniëlle, and we will ensure that complexity becomes clarity and that data guides better decisions.
