Process for controlling the combustion zone of a fluidized bed process comprising a regeneration zone and a reaction zone, the catalyst circulating between these two zones, and the regeneration zone comprising a combustion stage of the coke deposited on the catalyst in the reaction zone, control of the combustion zone being performed on the basis of a characteristic variable of the operation of said combustion zone, said characteristic variable being the object of automatic regulation by acting on the catalyst throughput, characterized in that the value of the catalyst throughput or of any control variable connected unequivocally to the catalyst is determined based on information on the operating values of the combustion zone, at least one of which corresponds to an independent evaluation of the level of coke deposited on the catalyst.