Ryanair has hit out at European air traffic control staff shortages after almost a fifth of Tuesday’s peak morning flights suffered from delays.
Europe’s largest airline reported that 18% of ‘first wave’ departures were affected, totalling 103 out of 583 aircraft yesterday.
The no-frills carrier apologised to passengers for “excessive flight delays” caused by European air traffic control (ATC) staff shortages – a situation which it said is affecting all European airlines.
Ryanair said: “ATC services, which have had the benefit of no French ATC strike disruption this summer, continue to underperform, despite flight volumes being 5% behind 2019 levels, with repeated staff shortages.
“These repeated flight delays due to ATC mismanagement are unacceptable
“We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”
Ryanair has been a long-term critic of European ATC performance and blamed the Maastricht control centre for delays to more than 30% of its 3,500 flights on June 27.
Chief operations officer Neal McMahon said at the time: “Over the last three years, Europe’s ATC fees have risen by record levels, but staffing and service levels have continued to decline.”
European air traffic management body Eurocontrol last month warned that ATC delays can’t be resolved without a “transformation” of the air traffic management system.
Eurocontrol noted pressure for cost savings in air traffic management was “still high”, resulting in a “challenge to ensure adequate numbers” of qualified air traffic controllers.
It urged a rethink of the way the system is operated amid “considerable fragmentation”.