One in three UK passengers are expected to experience flight delays this summer season, as the worst air traffic control issues in 25 years are due to take place
Around 30 million passengers are set to face delays this summer, as the worst air traffic control (ATC) issues in 25 years are due to take place.
Summer travellers last year experienced the worst air traffic control delays since 2001, mostly due to staffing issues, and this year is set to be even worse with 30 million UK air passengers expected to experience delays between June and August. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told the publication: “It will be worse than last summer, particularly at weekends. Europe needs to fix what is a broken air traffic control system, which we pay ridiculously expensive fees for.”
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The Eurocontrol Performance Review Report for 2024 reveals that during the summer months of June, July and August last year, one in three flights arrived more than 15 minutes behind schedule — the industry threshold for a delayed flight. Whilst adverse weather caused many delays, a shortage of air traffic controllers was also evident.
In addition, the Eurocontrol review revealed that many cases involving staff shortage, may have been wrongly attributed to weather. The report adds that a capaxity cut due to staffing “could result in a financial penalty”, while blaming the delay on adverse weather conditions “could even result in a financial bonus”.
Around 90 million passengers are expected to fly to or from UK airports between June and September 2025. However, it is likely that 30 million will arrive a quarter of an hour or more behind their schedule, which could jeopardise connections, reduce time on holiday and add pressure to airlines.
Now, Dr Peter Whysall who conducted the review for Eurocontrol, has called the constraints “a cause for concern”, adding that performance is “likely to get worse unless structural issues are addressed”.
Mr O’Leary added that ATC delays have increased by around 50 per cent in the last five years, say that he “wouldn’t object to those higher fees if we were getting an acceptable service. And yet last year, in 2024, we suffered record ATC delays.
“Major ANSP [air navigation service providers] all over Europe have admitted to us that they are understaffed, and that the ATC delays this summer will be worse than they were last summer. So we’re paying increased fees for a service that’s broken. It’s unacceptable.”
The report also revealed the worst offenders, including the destinations responsible for the most delays. Karlsruhe was responsible for the largest portion of delays, equalling 13.1 per cent. It was followed by Budapest (12.9 per cent), Marseille (seven per cent), Zagreb (6.5 per cent) and Reims (six per cent).
According to The Independent, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) was responsible for a quarter of delays, with the organisation stating: “The DGAC provides efficient air navigation services of high quality in terms of safety, the environment and capacity, at the best cost.”
Ben Smith, chief executive of Air France-KLM, added: “The shortage of air traffic controllers [in France] is 20-25 per cent, which means many of our flights are going to be delayed, and we already know this.”
However, Air France and KLM are susceptible to delays due to the amount of passengers connecting through their hubs in Paris CDG and Amsterdam respectively. Transfers of an hour or less between flights are common, and a delayed arrival can result in many of the connections being missed.
Airlines are responsible for providing customer care and rearranging onward travel through, even if they are not responsible for the delay. “Today, it’s just ‘Throw it on the airline.’ It’s easy,” shared Mr Smith. “To be beaten up in a way that costs us, and ultimately costs customers, is not correct. It’s not good for anybody.”
The European Commission commented: “Insufficient airspace capacity, as seen in recent years, leads to long delays and difficulties for passengers.
“These delays affect the efficiency of the entire air transport system. Delays are the cause of additional costs for airlines, and they increase the sector’s carbon footprint, with additional emissions from aircraft flying more fuel-inefficient routes.”
