Tourexpi
Ryanair Urges EU to Act as Over 34,000 Flights Suffer 5,000 Hours of Delays Due to ATC Failures
According
to Ryanair, more than 34,000 flights experienced a combined 5,000 hours of
ATC-related delays in a single day due to severe staffing shortages at key ATC
centres across Europe.
Despite
flight volumes still sitting 5% below pre-Covid levels, 2024 marked the worst
year on record for ATC disruptions. With the summer season now underway,
Ryanair warns that 2025 could be even worse unless urgent reforms are
implemented.
A
Ryanair spokesperson stated:
“As
we enter peak summer, it is unacceptable that passengers continue to face
avoidable ATC delays due to chronic understaffing and poor planning. Ursula von
der Leyen and her EU Commission have failed to act, allowing travel chaos to
persist. Sunday’s disastrous performance highlights the urgent need for
intervention.”
To
increase pressure, Ryanair has launched an “ATC League of Shame”, spotlighting
the worst-performing ATC providers across Europe and calling on national
transport ministers to be held accountable for repeated mismanagement and lack
of staffing.
The
airline demands two immediate reforms:
·
Proper staffing of all European ATC
centres, especially during peak travel hours.
·
Protection of overflights during
national ATC strikes, to prevent knock-on effects across the continent.
Ryanair
points out that ATC providers have access to airline schedules nearly a year in
advance, making staff shortages particularly inexcusable. Morning delays, in
particular, trigger cascading disruptions that affect operations for the rest
of the day.
Passengers
affected by delays are encouraged to visit Ryanair’s ‘Air Traffic Control
Ruined Your Flight’ webpage, where a template email is provided to help them
contact their national transport minister and demand immediate action.
“Enough
is enough,” the spokesperson added. “Unless the EU acts now, summer 2025 will
be remembered for travel disruption that was entirely preventable.”
Image
Credit: © AA
The most interesting news
Four Seasons Yachts Unveils Marina Day Experience, Redefining Luxury at Sea
Innovative design, Riviera-inspired elegance, and bespoke sea-level adventures set to debut aboard Four Seasons I in 2026
Thailand Launches ‘Sawasdee Nihao’ Initiative to Celebrate 50 Years of Thai–Chinese Relations
High-profile campaign marks diplomatic milestone and repositions Thailand as a premium, sustainable destination for Chinese travellers
TUI River Cruises Launches New Serbian and Croatian Danube Itineraries for Winter 2026
Expanded winter sailings include festive routes, new ports of call, and enhanced flight options across Europe and Egypt
Spain Hosts 123rd Meeting of UN Tourism Executive Council to Nominate New Secretary-General
High-level gathering in La Granja (Segovia) highlights Spain’s leadership in sustainable tourism and UN Tourism’s 50th anniversary
Delta Launches New Nonstop Service from Boston to Barcelona
Enhanced transatlantic access brings travelers closer to the heart of Catalonia
Eurowings Introduces Premium Business Seats on Medium-Haul Routes
New ‘Premium BIZ Seat’ elevates comfort aboard the A320neo – debut on Berlin–Dubai route in late 2025
Lufthansa Introduces Free Messaging on All Long-Haul Flights
As of today, Lufthansa passengers can enjoy unlimited free messaging on all long-haul flights.
Marella Cruises Launches Second Edition of ‘Make it on Marella’ Trade Incentive
Following a successful debut year, Marella Cruises is bringing back its trade-wide incentive ‘Make it on Marella’ for a second time, giving 25 lucky travel agents the chance to win a spot on board Marella Discovery for a Caribbean sailing in Marc
Destination by Hyatt Debuts in Greece with Opening of Zélia Halkidiki
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the grand opening of Zélia Halkidiki, an adults-only luxury retreat and the first Destination by Hyatt branded property in Greece.
Hyatt Expands Inclusive Collection in Bulgaria with Opening of AluaSoul Sunny Beach
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of AluaSoul Sunny Beach, a new adults-only resort on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
Cunard Unveils 195 New Voyages to 115 Global Destinations for 2027–2028
Cunard has announced an expansive new voyage program featuring 195 sailings across its iconic fleet.
EVA Air Joins IATA's Turbulence Aware Platform to Enhance Flight Safety
EVA Air has officially joined the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Turbulence Aware platform, further strengthening its commitment to flight safety and operational efficiency.
IHG and GI Capital Management Break Ground on New Regent Kyoto
IHG Hotels & Resorts and GI Capital Management have officially broken ground on the upcoming Regent Kyoto, a luxury hotel set to open in 2028.
Wego and Turespaña Launch Summer Campaign to Inspire MENA Travelers
Partnership highlights Spain’s culture, cuisine, and coastlines for Middle East audiences
IHG Accelerates Expansion in Vietnam with voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang
IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced a new milestone in its Vietnam growth strategy with the signing of voco Scenia Bay Nha Trang – By IHG, a 250-key seafront property scheduled to open by the end of 2025.
German Air Travel Lags Behind – Still 10% Below Pre-COVID Levels
Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg Among Worst-Performing Airports.
TAT and Grab Launch Nationwide Tourism Campaign to Reignite Travel Across Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Grab Thailand have launched a dynamic new campaign, “Tiew Tua Thai Suk Kan Yai Wai Jai Grab” – Explore Thailand, Enjoy More, Trust Grab, aimed at inspiring domestic and international travel throughout
Central Holidays Unveils New Travel Programs to Türkiye
Central Holidays has launched a new line of immersive travel programs to Türkiye for 2025, offering expertly curated itineraries designed for all traveler types—from history enthusiasts to adventure seekers.
TAT and Partners Launch Thailand’s First Grand Aquarium Yoga Experience at Sea Life Bangkok
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in collaboration with key lifestyle and wellness brands, has unveiled Grand Aquarium Yoga – Thailand’s first-ever underwater yoga experience, set against the stunning backdrop of Sea Life Bangkok Ocean Wor
Turkish Firm Karmod Launches Innovative Steel-Structured Aparthotel Project on Corfu
Prefabricated system allows year-round construction without seasonal delays
Dusit Princess Melaka Celebrates Grand Opening in UNESCO World Heritage City
Dusit International debuts in Malaysia with landmark property ahead of UN Tourism 2025 and Visit Malaysia 2026
