Holidaymakers facing worst air traffic delays since 2001

As many as 30 million passengers could be affected this year

- SIMON CALDER

Holidaymakers are set to face the worst air traffic control issues in a quarter of a century this summer with 30 million UK air passengers set to be delayed between June and August.

Summer travellers in 2024 experienced the worst air traffic control delays since 2001, largely due to staffing issues, and aviation heavyweights have warned that this year will be even worse.

On the eve of the start of the summer schedules, which begin tomorrow, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary told The Independent: “It will be worse than last summer, particularly at weekends. Europe needs to fix what is a broken air traffic control system, which we pay ridiculously expensive fees for.”

The Independent has analysed the Eurocontrol Performance Review Report for 2024, which reveals some shocking delays. During the summer months of June, July and August last year, one in three flights arrived more than 15 minutes behind schedule – the industry threshold for a delayed flight.

Adverse weather causes many of the delays but a shortage of air traffic controllers is also blamed. Indeed, the Eurocontrol review reveals that many cases involving staff shortage may be wrongly attributed to weather. The report says that a capacity cut due to staffing “could result in a financial penalty” – while blaming the delay on adverse weather “could even result in a financial bonus”.