Budget carrier Ryanair is calling out the inaction of the UK and EU countries over their inaction to solve air traffic delays.
It released a ‘League of Delays’ showing which countries have had the most ATC related disruption so far this year.
It blames short staffing and mismanagement.
France was the worst, Ryanair says, with over 15,000 delays, notably due to overflying requirements during strike action and other issues.
The UK had 1,642 delays, it says.
The data relates to all 2025 flights up to 26 May 2025.
It said 2024 was a record year for ATC delays despite 5% fewer flights in Europe than pre-Covid.
“The EU Commission and governments have taken no action to fix their shoddy ATC services and ATC delays will now be even worse in summer 2025m” the airline said.
“Ryanair has long campaigned for reform but ATC delays are getting worse. EU Transport Ministers are responsible. They must not be allowed to preside over another year of record ATC delays.”
Ryanair has published a ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ table
Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “We will hold EU Transport Ministers responsible for allowing such unnecessary and avoidable ATC delays to repeatedly occur.”
Fixing Europe’s ATC staff shortages as well as protecting overflights during strikes would eliminate 90% of EU’s ATC delays.”
