Ryanair calls on EU Commission and Governments to reform broken ATC

International

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Fri, 1 Aug) called on the EU Commission and Govts to take urgent action to reform their broken ATC services. This comes as Ryanair released its July “Delays League”, showing that France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece are the worst ATCs for delays as a result of their failure to be properly staffed and efficiently managed.

These worst ATC delays are exposed by the vastly better ATC service delivered by better run ATCs (without mismanagement or staff shortages), in Ireland, Slovakia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, all of whom have caused the fewest ATC delays in Europe this year. If these States can properly manage/staff their ATC services and minimise delays, then why can’t passengers expect a similar service from the very well-funded, but mismanaged ATCs in France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece.

Ryanair has long campaigned for EU reform to ensure ATC providers are fully staffed but big State ATC delays are getting worse. Ryanair calls on all passengers to visit the ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ webpage and demand that national Transport Ministers and the EU Commission take urgent action to properly staff their national ATC services to eliminate 90% of ATC delays.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“Another month has passed, and Europe’s worst-performing ATCs in France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece continue to inflict avoidable delays to thousands of Ryanair flights and millions of Ryanair passengers due to mismanagement and inexcusable under staffing. Yet, neither the EU Commission nor national Transport Ministers responsible for these failing ATC services have taken any action to fix Europe’s broken ATC services.

In stark contrast, Countries like Ireland, Slovakia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium are delivering Europe’s most efficient ATC services, which proves that well-managed, properly staffed ATC is not just possible but is already being delivered by many EU States. So why can’t France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece do the same? The answer is simple: they can, but as complacent, protected State monopolies, they have no incentive to care about delays or passengers.

It is unacceptable that hard-working passengers and airlines continue to pay sky-high fees for substandard ATC services. Ryanair calls on the EU Commission and EU Transport Ministers of France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece to take immediate action. Recruit more air traffic controllers, eliminate these delays, and provide the efficient ATC service their citizens expect. Ryanair calls on passengers to join Ryanair’s campaign by visiting the ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ webpage and demand real reform of these failing ATC providers in France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Greece.”