Flight Delays and Cancellations Hamper European Summer Travel
Thursday, July 25th, 2024
Ongoing Challenges in European Air Travel
Despite the global IT issues from 19th July 2024 being resolved, European airports continue to grapple with substantial flight delays and cancellations. This disruption comes at a peak travel period, with millions embarking on their summer holidays.
Causes of the continuing issues
Various airlines have identified staff shortages at European Air Traffic Control Centres as the primary reason for these ongoing problems. Airlines for Europe (A4E), which represents major carriers including Ryanair, Lufthansa, IAG, and Air France-KLM, highlighted the gravity of the situation. In a statement, A4E noted, “This summer, European airlines have had to delay or cancel thousands of flights, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.”
Staffing limitations at air traffic control centres are responsible for 53% of these delays. A4E is asking the European Commission to take “urgent action” to address these issues.
Compounding factors
However, staff shortages at air traffic control are not the only contributors to the disruptions. The closure of Russian airspace to European aircraft, climate change, and increasingly severe weather conditions are exacerbating 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 offers 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 issues have significantly contributed to this figure.
Calls for reform and improvements
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 some countries has hindered its progress.
While long-term solutions such as the Single European Sky might eventually address the issues, significant delays and cancellations are expected to continue throughout this summer. If you are due to fly over the next few weeks, ensure you monitor your flight status and stay informed with updates from your airline.
Featured image courtesy of Brett Sayles – Pexels