Ryanair criticises European air traffic control for ‘chaos’ over delays

Parts of Europe are experiencing severe weather conditions, leading to air traffic control restrictions in the region and causing delays to hundreds of flights.

Low-cost airline EasyJet had about 50% of its flights delayed, while British Airways had 36% of its flights delayed and Lufthansa had 39% as of Friday afternoon, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.

“Like all airlines we have unfortunately been forced to adjust our schedules due to European Air Traffic Control restrictions caused by severe weather across Europe,” British Airways said in a statement.

EasyJet also said it was experiencing “delays due to the disruption”.

Lufthansa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ryanair has taken a tougher stance, calling for reforms to air traffic control in the region.

About 35% of Ryanair flights are currently delayed, according to FlightAware, which the airline blames on a lack of air traffic controllers and equipment issues.

“It is unacceptable that one in four Ryanair flights in today’s first wave of departures was delayed due to controller short-staffing and equipment failure,” Ryanair chief operating officer Neil McMahon said in a statement.

“We call on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take urgent action to reform Europe’s chaotic air traffic control services,” McMahon continued.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Airports in London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich and Paris also saw increased delays on Friday morning, according to FlightAware.

Air traffic controller shortage hits Europe during busy summer

A severe shortage of air traffic controllers combined with a surge in travel demand since the pandemic has caused flight disruptions across the region, with Germany and France being particularly hard hit by staffing shortages.

French air traffic controllers also went on strike in April after failing to reach an agreement with the French government, causing delays and cancellations of thousands of flights.

A shortage of air traffic controllers caused disruptions at several European airports during the summer of 2022. For example, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport was forced to impose capacity restrictions and airlines were forced to drastically cut schedules.

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers previously said delays caused by staffing shortages had cost airlines around 800 million euros, which it blamed on cuts in hiring and training of air traffic controllers as part of cost-cutting measures.

IFATCA vice president Frederic Derow previously told Skift that too few hires over the past decade, combined with early retirement packages offered to some air traffic controllers during the pandemic, contributed to the shortage.

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Photo credit: Boeing 737-8. Vincenzo Pace