Ryanair says more than 21 million of its passengers have faced flight delays or cancellations so far in 2025 due to what it calls “chronic mismanagement and staff shortages” at Europe’s worst-performing air traffic control (ATC) providers.
In its latest “ATC Delays League,” the airline singled out France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and Greece as the main culprits, while praising Bulgaria, Denmark, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Belgium for efficient operations.
CEO Michael O’Leary accused the EU Commission and national governments of complacency, claiming they have failed to ensure adequate ATC staffing and oversight, despite airlines and passengers paying high fees. Ryanair urged Brussels to act, and called on travellers to join its online campaign, arguing that fully staffing ATC services could cut delays by up to 90%.