Persistent Flight Delays and Cancellations
Thursday, July 25th, 2024
Persistent Flight Delays and Cancellations Plague European Summer Travel
The global IT issues from the 19th of July 2024 seem to be overcome, however, European airports are still facing significant flight delays and cancellations. This situation comes at a peak travel time, with millions embarking on their summer holidays.
Understanding the causes behind the ongoing issues
Numerous airlines have pinpointed staff shortages at European Air Traffic Control Centres as the primary reason for these persistent problems. Airlines for Europe (A4E), representing prominent carriers such as Ryanair, Lufthansa, IAG, and Air France-KLM, emphasised the critical nature of the situation. In a statement, A4E remarked, “This summer, European airlines have had to delay or cancel thousands of flights, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.”
Capacity limitations and a lack of adequate staffing at air traffic control centres are responsible for 53% of these delays. A4E is calling on the European Commission to implement “urgent action” to tackle these issues.
Additional factors straining the system
However, staffing shortages at air traffic control are not the sole contributors to the disruptions. The closure of Russian airspace to European aircraft, climate change, and increasingly severe weather conditions are further compounding the challenges. The International Air Transport Association reported that 30% of delayed flights in Europe last year were due to adverse weather, up from 11% in 2012.
Insights from Eurocontrol
Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, oversees air traffic management within the EU. The agency described the summer of 2024 as “particularly challenging” due to strong traffic growth, network saturation, and adverse weather conditions.
Eurocontrol’s data provides a comprehensive view: air traffic has increased by 10% to 20% compared to 2019 in many parts of European airspace. June 2024 experienced a 5.2% rise in daily flights compared to June 2023. Delays have significantly increased, with an additional 1.1 million minutes in June 2024 compared to June 2023. Weather-related delays have significantly contributed to this figure.
Calls for comprehensive reform
Airlines for Europe has long been advocating for extensive air traffic reform through the Single European Sky initiative, launched 20 years ago. This project aims to streamline air traffic management across Europe, reducing the dependency on national borders. However, resistance from certain countries has stalled its progress.
While long-term solutions such as the Single European Sky might eventually address these issues, significant delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout this summer. So, if you are due to fly over the next few weeks, do monitor your flight status and stay informed with updates from your airline.