HOLIDAYMAKERS are facing a year of travel disruption across Europe, Ryanair’s chief executive has warned.
Eddie Wilson stated that delays in air traffic control are unacceptable. “worst ever”Even though there are 15 percent more flights per year than in the years before the pandemic lockdowns.
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European airspace handled an estimated 30,718 flights per day in the week ended July 31, with a delay of 116.624 minutes on average.
A majority of delays were remediated en route. 51% of disruptions resulted from capacity or staffing issues.
28% were due to weather.
He said: “The underlying problem across Europe — even if you have the aircraft, you’re not cancelling [flights] and you’ve got the crew — is air-traffic control.
“It is the single biggest delay for all airlines by a country mile.”
Saying there needs to be a big recruitment drive or delays will continue, he added: “There is a chance this will go on into next summer unless they get their acts together now.
“Because there is about 10 or 15% less traffic this summer in Europe compared to 2019, yet they still can’t handle it and we’ve got the worst delays ever.”