Ryanair Pushes for ATC Reform as Flights Canceled and Delayed Due to Staff Shortages and Equipment Failures

Image generated with Ai

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, apologized today (28 Jun) to its passengers for the excessive flight delays and over 60 flight cancellations caused by European ATC underperformance on Thursday, 27 Jun, and again today (Friday, 28 Jun). This issue is affecting all European airlines. Despite the absence of French ATC strike disruptions this summer and flight volumes being 5% behind 2019 levels, ATC services continue to underperform due to repeated “staff shortages” and “equipment failure” in its Maastricht center. On Thursday, 27 Jun, over 30% of Ryanair’s 3,500 flights were delayed due to ATC issues, with 16 aircraft missing their airport curfew landing times. This morning, 25% of Ryanair’s first wave departures (150 of 600 aircraft) were delayed due to the same ATC problems. These repeated delays and cancellations caused by ATC mismanagement are unacceptable.

Ryanair’s Chief Ops Officer Neal McMahon said: “ATC services in Europe this summer are at their worst levels ever. Ryanair and many other European airlines are having our schedules repeatedly delayed, flights cancelled, and passengers disrupted due to the mismanagement of European ATC. We call on Raul Medina, DG of Eurocontrol, to explain why Europe’s ATC centres are repeatedly short staffed and now claiming “equipment failures” at the Maastricht centre, which is affecting all European airlines. It is unacceptable that 1 in every 4 of Ryanair’s first wave departures today were delayed due of ATC staff shortages and equipment failures.

Over the last 3 years, Europe’s ATC fees have risen by record levels, but staffing and service levels have
continued to decline. We call on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take action to urgently
reform Europe’s shambolic ATC services. Eurocontrol DG Raul Medina must now act to deliver an efficient
and effective ATC service to Europe’s citizens. These repeated ATC delays and cancellations are
unacceptable. We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays and flight cancellations, which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”