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Airlines demand action after summer flight delays rise
Flight delays for European airlines were up 12% in July compared with the same month last year, and they were 35% higher than two years ago.
As a result, members of the airilne pressure group A4E have written a joint letter expressing their concerns regarding the disruption to the European Air Navigation Service (ANS).
According to A4E, of which easyJet and IAG are members, almost 70% of all air traffic control (ATC) regulations in July were weather-related and caused by issues such as ATC staffing, capacity and other issues within ANS control.
A4E said that excessive ATC regulations this summer have meant that airlines have had to fly longer routes or that the number of flights on certain routes have been restricted, which then caused knock-on effects throughout the network, including crews going out of hours, leading to delays.
"We appreciate that the complexity in European airspace has grown drastically in recent years, but airlines expect a level of service that facilitates a stable operation," said Thomas Reynaert, A4E managing director.
"Every day, airline staff, pilots and cabin crew are doing their utmost to manage the demanding operational environment this summer and airlines plan for a certain level of disruption, but today’s challenges require much more robust and network-wide solutions from ATC.
"More than 20 European ANSPs showed few to zero delays and outperformed some of their peers. In light of this, it is even more important that the Single European Sky is implemented more quickly and without delay to start delivering the benefits that can accommodate the current growth in air traffic for airspace users and, ultimately, for European passengers."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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