ATC staff shortages and equipment failures have led to delays and cancellations across Europe on Thursday and Friday.
Ryanair reported that 60 flights were cancelled and150 first wave departures delayed.
Neal McMahon Ryanair Chief Ops Officer said: “ATC services in Europe this summer are at their worst levels ever. Ryanair and many other European airlines are having our schedules repeatedly delayed, flights cancelled, and passengers disrupted due to the mismanagement of European ATC. We call on Raul Medina, DG of Eurocontrol, to explain why Europe’s ATC centres are repeatedly short staffed and now claiming equipment failures at the Maastricht centre, which is affecting all European airlines. It is unacceptable that one in every four of Ryanair’s first wave departures today were delayed due of ATC staff shortages and equipment failures. Over the last 3 years, Europe’s ATC fees have risen by record levels, but staffing and service levels have continued to decline. We call on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take action to urgently reform Europe’s shambolic ATC services. Eurocontrol DG Raul Medina must now act to deliver an efficient and effective ATC service to Europe’s citizens. These repeated ATC delays and cancellations are unacceptable. We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays and flight cancellations, which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”
