Flight alert in Europe. Last weekend there was a dramatic increase in canceled or delayed flights at European airports. Eurocontrol, the intergovernmental organization that monitors air traffic, reported, between June 24 and 30 over 600 flights cancelled (on the 28th alone) and more 8.000 flights delayed (at least 15 minutes). In practice, Europe alone accounted for half of the canceled flights worldwide.
Le causes of this chaos on flights are multiple: recurring technical failures, adverse weather conditions, personnel shortages and the impact of wars, in particular the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
It didn't go anywhere well. In English and Spanish airports, departures have suffered delays of more than three hours. Also on July 1st, approximately 70% of flights departed late to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris (Charles de Gaulle), London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Madrid and Barcelona. Several companies have had to accommodate pilots or customers in hotels, depending on available places. In addition to these expenses, companies will have to face compensation and refunds millionaires for travellers. An increase in costs which has also led to mutual accusations and threats of litigation between airlines, airport management companies, handling companies (airport ground services) and air traffic controllers.
These inconveniences appear to be only thestart of a difficult summer for air transport, with repercussions on passengers already affected by the ticket price increases due to the new environmental tax.
Air traffic increased by 20%
According to Eurocontrol, air traffic is increased between 10% and 20% compared to 2019, with an average of 33.671 daily flights in June 2024, an increase of 5,2% compared to the same period last year. However, this increase in traffic has also led to an important increase in delays, going from 3,6 million minutes to 4,7 million minutes, an increase of 1,1 million minutes.
In the week of June 24 to 30, planes in Europe have accumulated 1,9 million minutes of delay, an increase of 153% compared to the same period last year and 125% compared to 2019.
Flight delays and cancellations: the causes
Le weather conditions they played their role in the increase in delays, but they were not the only factor. There lack of staff, due to cuts made during the pandemic, has made it difficult for airlines and airports to handle the growing number of passengers. Furthermore, i technical failures recurring have further complicated the situation.
"L 'summer 2024 it is particularly revealing challenging because of strong traffic growth and grid saturation combined with adverse weather conditions,” he said Iacopo Prissinotti, Director Network Management of Eurocontrol, urging operators, airlines, airports and ground staff to strengthen collaboration to address this problem and to focus on the timely departure of the first flight of the day to avoid chain delays.
Chaos in the skies, Ryanair protests: "ATC services worst ever"
Ryanair, Europe's main low-cost airline, was particularly affected by the disruptions. Neal McMahon, chief operating officer of the company, stated that “Atc services (air traffic control) in Europe this summer are at the worst levels ever“, citing repeated delays and cancellations due to mismanagement by air traffic control services. The company based in Swords (Ireland) has repeatedly requested the intervention of the European Commission to improve these services, in particular regarding staff shortages and equipment failures, underlining how, despite record increases in ATC tariffs in Over the past three years, staffing and service levels have declined. McMahon asked for a urgent intervention by the Director General of Eurocontrol, Raul medina, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to reform European ATC services.
5 July air transport strike in Italy
July also does not bode well for passengers, especially Italian ones, with a s4 hour operation of air transport services in Italy scheduled for July 5th. Announced by various trade unions, the strike will affect the airports of Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Venice, Lamezia Terme, Crotone and Reggio Calabria, and will last from 13pm to 00pm. Some companies will extend the ban for 17 hours.
Even some airlines, like Aer Lingus, are involved in strikes. The Irish carrier canceled numerous international flights due to the pilots' strike, which was widely supported by staff. The service interruption, which began on June 29, could extend until July 7, with possible delays and cancellations. Passengers will be able to change the travel date for free or request a voucher for future flights.
