Urgent warning to holidaymakers as flight delays are expected to be the worst in 25 years this summer

Holidaymakers in Europe could face the worst flight disruption since 2001 due to issues around staffing and capacity.

European air traffic control bosses have warned that delays could be even worse than last year, when one in three flights arrived more than 15 minutes behind schedule.

Disruption in 2024 was already the worst on record for almost 25 years – costing the industry €2.8 billion, equivalent to £2.4billion – with delays 47 per cent worse than 2023.

This could spell misery for the estimated 90 million passengers who are expected to fly to or from UK airports between June and September this year. 

Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, is expecting to handle five per cent more flights than last summer.

Steven Moore, head of air traffic management operations, said the continent was at particular risk because it is a ‘highly saturated network where any issue becomes a network problem’.

He told The Times: ‘It’s plain we won’t have a summer without delays.’

Adverse weather was the cause of many delays in 2024, according to the Eurocontrol Performance Review Report for last year.

Up to 30million passengers could face delays flying to or from UK airports this summer

Disruption in 2024 was already the worst on record for almost 25 years – costing the industry €2.8 billion

However, the report suggests that many cases involving staff shortage may be wrongly attributed to weather to avoid financial penalties. 

Among the worst offenders for delays are Karlsruhe in Germany, Budapest in Hungary, Zagreb in Croatia, and Merseille and Reims in France. 

Many airlines are already experiencing the start of a cycle of disruption as Europe approaches the summer months.

EasyJet said that it experienced a 41 per cent increase in delays in January in February.

Chief Operating Officer David Morgan said the results were a ‘worrying sign we’re moving in the wrong direction’, adding: ‘I can hardly remember a year when we’ve not had [air traffic control] staffing issues. 

‘The cost of delays is eye-watering — it’s costing hundreds of millions to airlines.

‘Everyone likes to talk about realistic schedules but it’s not always easy. Airlines must adhere to a schedule or risk losing [landing] slots. 

‘Delays are getting worse. They are part and parcel of summer, but staffing delays should be exceptional. 

‘Every year in peak summer we’re struggling with staffing.’

EasyJet said that it has already experienced a 41 per cent increase in delays in January in February

Many airlines are already experiencing the start of a cycle of disruption as Europe approaches the summer months

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has also raised the issue of a lack of air traffic controllers working in critical locations across Europe.

This was down to a large number of the specialist staff opting for early retrement at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when flights were severely restricted worldwide.

This was compounded with airline traffic bouncing back faster than originally predicted after lockdown restrictions were eased.

O’Leary warned: ‘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.’ 

Jesus Garcia, the air navigation systems co-ordinator at Enaire, the Spanish air traffic management body, added: ‘We need more air traffic controllers. 

‘The problem with the availability of air traffic controllers is complex; training takes two to three years and recruitment is based on long-term planning not short-term demand.’

He said that last year’s recruitment drive was based on airline traffic figures from 2021, which were much lower than pre-pandemic.

The worst countries for air traffic control delays are France, Germany and Hungary. 

Ben Smith, chief executive of Air France-KLM, said: ‘The shortage of air traffic controllers [in France] is 20-25 per cent, which means many of our flights are going to be delayed, and we already know this.’ 

Airline traffic has bounced back faster than originally predicted after lockdown restrictions were eased

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has raised the issue of a lack of air traffic controllers working in critical locations across Europe

This includes flights that are flying over these zones, and not just ones that originate within them. 

‘We’re suffering a perfect storm with unpredictable and volatile traffic flow,’ Garcia added. 

‘Growth after Covid has not been uniform. 

‘In addition, we’re suffering geopolitical conflict with increased military action and flight restrictions and increasing extreme weather phenomena. 

‘Together, it places a strain on capacity.’

Last week the European Commission said: ‘Insufficient airspace capacity, as seen in recent years, leads to long delays and difficulties for passengers. These delays affect the efficiency of the entire air transport system. 

‘Delays are the cause of additional costs for airlines, and they increase the sector’s carbon footprint, with additional emissions from aircraft flying more fuel-inefficient routes.’

The European Commission said: ‘Insufficient airspace capacity, as seen in recent years, leads to long delays and difficulties for passengers’

Strikes are also likely to worsen delays.

Today, air traffic controllers in Greece have downed tools for 24 hours as they demand higher pay.

Athens International Airport has confirmed that no commercial flights will operate during the strike.

Flight attendants in Italy will also walk out for four hours, between 10.30am and 2.30pm local time today.

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