Ryanair has apologised to travellers after several flights were delayed across Europe on Thursday due to air traffic control staff shortages.
As per the reports, all European airlines have been left affected due to the disruption. The flight volumes are currently running five per cent below 2019 levels.
The airline highlighted, that although there were no specific air traffic control (ATC) strikes in France this summer (which have historically caused disruptions), ATC services across Europe are still not meeting expected standards, reports GB news.
Ryanair stated in their announcement today: “These repeated flight delays due to ATC mismanagement are unacceptable.”
The airline reported that its first wave of departures on Thursday faced delays due to ATC staffing issues.
The airline stated: “We apologise to our passengers for these repeated ATC flight delays which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”
In response to ongoing disruptions, Ryanair is encouraging affected passengers to take action via its campaign website, atcruinedourholiday.com, urging the EU Commission to implement immediate improvements to Europe’s air traffic control system.
This comes after Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary lashed out at the Labour Government’s decision to raise Air Passenger Duty on short-haul flights.
In reaction, the UK’s leading airline plans to cut 10 percent of its UK seat capacity next year.
The £2 increase per passenger, introduced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ recent Budget, has been denounced by Ryanair as a setback for UK families and tourism.
Mr O’Leary contends that the increase will harm growth, tourism, and UK air travel.
He called the decision “idiotic” and “short-sighted”, claiming it demonstrates the Government’s lack of understanding of how to deliver economic growth.
He said: “This short-sighted tax grab will make air travel much more expensive for ordinary UK families going on holidays abroad and will make the UK a less competitive destination compared to Ireland, Sweden, Hungary and Italy where these governments are abolishing travel taxes to stimulate traffic, tourism, and jobs growth in their economies.
“Reeves has damaged the UK’s growth prospects and made air travel much more expensive for UK families travelling abroad on holidays or to visit friends and family.”
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