Ryanair has urged Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Government to intervene after passengers faced 5000 hours of delays across more than 34,000 flights on 1 June due to ATC staff shortages.
In 2024, air traffic control experienced its worst disruptions on record, at a time flight volumes are still 5pc lower than pre-Covid levels.
Ryanair says planning failures and inadequate staffing by ATC service providers resulted in unacceptable delays as summer travel season approaches.
Ryanair’s has set up an ATC League of Shame to identify the providers responsible for disruptions and hold national transport ministers accountable for continued mismanagement.
The airline called for urgent implementation of reforms to alleviate delays, emphasising the need for adequate staffing to manage flight schedules, especially during key morning departures.
Michael O’Leary shared: “It is unacceptable that passengers continue to face ATC delays as a result of staff shortages and poor planning by ATC service providers. Yesterday’s shambolic performance by ATC centres across Europe caused hours of delays and this is unacceptable for passengers and airlines. Passengers are suffering 20pc worse delays due to repeated ATC mismanagement and staff shortages. Fixing ATC staff shortages would fix 90pc of EU’s ATC delays. Passengers affected by these increasing ATC disruptions can now go online to our ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight.’”
