Ryanair says 600,000 of its passengers faced delays due to air traffic control staff shortages between 22 and 31 December 2025.
More than 3,200 flights experienced avoidable disruptions during the festive season. Spain recorded 1,098 delayed Ryanair flights, affecting 197,640 passengers. France followed with 999 delayed flights impacting 179,820 passengers. Portugal and Germany also contributed to the issues with 307 and 242 delayed flights respectively.
Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson shared “It is unacceptable that 600,000 passengers suffered avoidable ATC delays this Christmas as a result of staff shortages at ATC centres across Spain, France, Portugal and Germany. When will Ursula von ‘Derlayed-Again’ and the EU Commission stop sitting on their hands and deliver real ATC reform to protect passengers from these completely avoidable delays?”
