Ryanair reveals the air traffic control ‘Grinches’ who ruined Christmas for over 600,000 passengers

International

Mismanagment by ATC providers denies the freedom of movement for EU citizens

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Thurs, 8 Jan) published the table of “ATC GRINCHES” that ruined Christmas travel for over 600,000 Ryanair passengers during the festive season. This comes after over 3,200 Ryanair flights and 600,000 Ryanair passengers suffered avoidable ATC delays over the Christmas travel period (22–31 Dec) due to ATC staff shortages. Spain and France were by far the worst performing ATC providers this Christmas, accounting for 34% and 31% of delays respectively.

Peak travel disruption during the festive season

Such an excessive volume of ATC delays at one of the busiest travel weekends of the year – during which many passengers are travelling with young families – is not acceptable.

Call for EU air traffic control reform

Ryanair has repeatedly called for EU ATC reform, but Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” ignores these ATC delays/cancellations which restricts freedom of movement for EU citizens simply due to ATC providers failure to plan for the right number of ATC staff. Ryanair calls on all EU passengers to visit the ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ webpage and demand that Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” take urgent action to reform the EU’s broken ATC services to minimise delays for EU citizens.

Statement from Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson

Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said:

“It is unacceptable that 600,000 passengers suffered avoidable ATC delays this Christmas as a result of staff shortages at ATC centres across Spain, France, Portugal and Germany. With Spain and France top of the” ATC Grinches” list. Passengers should be able to travel around Europe without suffering hours of unnecessary ATC delays and cancellations.

When will Ursula von ‘Derlayed-Again’ and the EU Commission stop sitting on their hands and deliver real ATC reform to protect passengers from these completely avoidable delays? Ryanair has long called for urgent reform, yet the EU continues to allow these disruptions to happen year after year, especially at peak travel periods. We urge all passengers affected by these unacceptable delays to visit our ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ webpage and email their transport minister to demand action. Enough is enough – Europe needs ATC reform now.”