| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 08/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 32 |
| Copyright: Other |
Ambrose calls for regulators to act on delays
Report by CHRISTIANKOCH
European Regions Airline Association director general Mike Ambrose has attacked regulators over growing air travel delays.Ambrose, whose association looks after the interests of Europe’s smaller airlines, blamed governments for failing to implement urgently needed changes to aviation infrastructure.
He highlighted problems with air-traffic control systems and has called for more co-operation between individual parties.
While unveiling ERA’s 1999 results, Ambrose said: “The worsening effect of delays on performance will continue until significant improvements in the management of air-traffic services across Europe are made.”
He reported that ERA carriers suffered their worst-ever year for delays in 1999 with only 79% of flights departing within 15mins of their allotted take-off time.
This compared with just over half of flights, some 58%, leaving on time.
Ambrose also revealed the time taken to fly from one regional airport to another has increased by 4% due to congestion and traffic control delays.
In the UK, airports that traditionally have not experienced delays are expected to be hit hard this summer. Airlines are already bracing themselves for congestion at Stansted which is experiencing huge growth due to additional capacity from low-cost carriers.
Ambrose said Europe’s smaller carriers had improved passenger traffic by 10% last year, double that of the major airlines. A factor which is adding to increasing delays.
This will not let up as the likes of UK-based Ryanair, Go and EasyJet plan to add further intra-European routes in the future. Their budget pricing will encourage more passengers into the air.
Ambrose added that one of the critical results of the worsening situation is that crew are working longer hours in the air.
ERA represents 79 airlines and has 140 affiliate members. Last year association members carried 68m passengers on more than 2m flights.
Trouble brewing: airlines are preparing for congestion at Stansted as the airport expands