A4E, Europe’s largest airline trade association, has called on EU Transport Commissioner Hoekstra to address Europe’s ATC capacity shortages, which have resulted in thousands of flight delays and cancellations this summer
Eurocontrol data for the week of 8-14 July showed a 68pc year-on-year increase in delays for A4E airlines, with 53pc of delays caused by ATC capacity and staffing issues, affecting over 34,000 flights with an average delay of 20 minutes per flight
Despite record high ATC fees and traffic levels not returning to pre-COVID levels, ATC service in Europe continues to deteriorate, with 2023 being one of the worst years for ATC performance in two decades
Actions to address ATC capacity issues proposed by A4E include improving coordination with Eurocontrol and ATC service providers during disruptive events, optimising controller placement, enhancing adaptability of ATC workforce, and ensuring the latest technology and operational concepts are utilized by European ATC providers.
