Ryanair releases European ‘league of delays’ with warning over summer disruption

Last year has been labelled as a record 12 months for air traffic control (ATC) delays despite 5% fewer flights in Europe than pre-Covid. 

The claim came from Ryanair as the airline highlighted EU states whose “short staffed and mismanaged” ATCs are causing the worst delays to its flights so far this year. 

The first wave of morning departures is being particularly hit, according to the low cost carrier. 

Ryanair warned that ATC delays will now be even worse this summer as the European Commission and governments have taken “no action to fix their shoddy ATC services”.

The airline issued a ‘league of delays’ with France the worst culprit, followed by Spain, Germany, Portugal and the UK.

“While ATC delays soared in 2024, ATC fees to airlines and passengers rose by double the rate of inflation - up 35% since Covid,” the carrier said in a statement.

Ryanair has long campaigned for reform to ensure control centres are fully staffed but warned that ATC delays are getting worse.

Group chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “Our ATC ‘league of delays’ exposes Europe’s worst ATCs for delays due to mismanagement and staff shortages from January to May 2025. 

“We will hold EU transport ministers responsible for allowing such unnecessary and avoidable ATC delays to repeatedly occur.”

He noted that national ATCs are made aware of airline schedules almost 12 months in advance, “so there is no reason for them not to adequately staff up to manage this traffic”. 

He said: “This is especially important for the first wave of morning flights as any morning delays knock on to flights throughout the rest of the day. 

“Fixing Europe’s ATC staff shortages as well as protecting overflights during national ATC strikes would eliminate 90% of EU’s ATC delays but transport ministers won’t take any action.”