The onset of the summer peak saw an improvement in flight operations in July despite bad weather, defying media reports based on Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data that ‘Flight delays have become the norm’.
CAA figures show one in three UK-departing flights (32%) were delayed in the first five months of this year, up from 22% in 2019, although flights classify as delayed if departing more than 15 minutes late. A flight has to be delayed more than three hours for passengers to be entitled to compensation.
European air navigation body Eurocontrol, which provides more up-to-date data, reported weather-related air traffic management delays in July were “over two and a half times” the 2022 figure, with “the largest delays at Frankfurt, Gatwick and Munich”.
But it noted that “without the weather element, air traffic delays reduced by nearly a quarter” year-on-year.
Separately, aviation analytics firm Cirium reported the number of cancelled flights in Europe fell 11% in July on the previous month.
Aviation sources insist staffing levels are sufficient to cope with the summer schedule but delays due to air traffic control strikes and the closure of 20% of European airspace due to the Ukraine war continue to dog the network.
One source told Travel Weekly: “Cancellations because of industrial action have increased significantly, especially in France but also in Italy and Germany.
“There have also been significant weather events, which hasn’t helped with the air traffic control restrictions we have. There is not a lot of stretch in the system.”
Germany and France accounted for more than half (53%) of all air traffic delays across Europe in the last week of July.
British Airways chief executive Sean Doyle confirmed “we’ve seen reductions in disruption compared to June” at the end of July and said: “We expect that to carry on.”
He insisted: “We’re not seeing the level of disruption at Gatwick that you may see overall at the airport which has specific challenges in relation to air traffic control capacity.”
However, he added: “Airports in northern Europe are seeing similar levels of challenge.”
EasyJet, by far the largest carrier operating at Gatwick, cancelled 1,700 flights through to September last month, primarily due to the air traffic restrictions affecting Gatwick.
An EasyJet spokesperson insisted: “The action we took to consolidate flying resulted in a stable operation. We saw an immediate reduction of 85% in on-the-day cancellations.”
A senior airline source told Travel Weekly: “There is pressure in the system like any summer. [But] we’ve no concerns about operational problems apart from what airlines normally expect.”
The threat of strikes by ground handlers exacerbating delays in the coming days has diminished at some airports.
Action by aircraft refuelers at Birmingham Airport this week was called off following an improved pay offer.
A strike by passenger assistance staff at Gatwick this weekend was also called off following a pay deal.
And a four-day strike by ground-handling staff at Gatwick this weekend was suspended on Thursday following an improved pay offer.
The 230 workers at Red Handling, which services Norse Atlantic, Norwegian, Delta Air Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and Saudia flights at Gatwick, still have the option of a four-day strike over the August bank holiday if they reject the pay deal.
Unite also warned passengers flying with Wizz Air from Luton to brace for delays and disruption after workers employed by ground handler GH London Ground Handling Services announced strikes following “a collapse in industrial relations”.
Union general secretary Sharon Graham condemned the company’s conduct as “appalling”, with Unite accusing it of “targeting and threatening a Unite rep with disciplinary action, use of CCTV and audio recording of workers in break rooms without agreement, disproportionate use of discipline against ethnic minority employees, and failure to pay wages in full and on time”.
The 80-plus members of Unite at Luton plan three 24-hour strikes on Wednesday August 30, September 6 and 13 and Unite warned: “The strikes will cause huge disruption to Wizz’s schedule.”
A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “We are in touch with Luton Airport and our ground handling partner and are doing everything within our control to limit disruptions for passengers.
“In case of any disruptions, we will reach out to any affected passengers who booked directly and let them know their options as soon as we have an update.”