The popular low-budget airline has issued a plea for their passengers to demand immediate action from Air Traffic Control services. Via their mailing list on Saturday, Ryanair reinforced its demand for urgent ATC reform, calling on customers to let the EU Commission know how poor Air Traffic Control ruined their holiday.
A Call for Reform
As Europe’s no.1 airline, Ryanair has reported 181, 593 flights delayed, and 33 million passengers impacted since the April 1. Ryanair blames an understaffed and undertrained ATC for the airline’s disruptions, delays and cancellations. The airline has provided passengers with these statistics, spurring them to fill out a form, addressing the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Eurocontrol Director General, Raúl Medina, to take urgent action to reform Europe’s Air Traffic Control Services.
Delays and Disruptions
The plea urges the its passengers to put pressure on the European commission. The announcement comes after a culmination of flight delays and cancellations. In June of this year, Ryanair issued numerous apologies to its passengers, criticising ATC mismanagement for repeated disruptions during the summer.
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, has been vocal about air traffic control inefficiencies and their impact on European travel, especially during peak travel times. In the past, Ryanair has also appealed to passengers to push governing authorities for reform. ATC Strikes in France in 2018 saw many airlines penalised for their performance, despite relying on air traffic control for their operation. The low-budget airline, which is a favourite for cost-conscious travellers, positions itself as a defender of the customer experience. Ryanair has highlighted that disorder surrounding commercial aviation operations in Europe is exhausted by ATC inefficiencies and staff shortages.
Future Concerns
With an increase in Europe’s ATC fees, Ryanair maintains that staffing and service levels continue declining. The airline is calling on the EU Commission for more investment in ATC. It demands better resourcing, mitigating strikes and overall mismanagement.
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