Ryanair urges EU action after Belgian ATC failure disrupts 25,000 passengers

Ryanair has renewed calls for urgent reform of Europe’s air traffic control (ATC) system after a Belgian ATC equipment failure caused widespread disruption, delaying 139 Ryanair flights and affecting over 25,000 passengers.

The airline criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — pointedly dubbing her “Ursula von ‘Derlayed-Again’” — for what it sees as a lack of decisive action on repeated ATC disruptions, which Ryanair says have already impacted more than 30 million EU passengers this year.

“It is unacceptable that passengers continue to suffer ATC delays and cancellations as a result of repeated mismanagement,” said Jade Kirwan, Ryanair’s Director of Communications. “Yet Ursula von ‘Derlayed-Again’ sits in Brussels doing nothing to protect EU passengers.”

Ryanair is urging travellers to use its ‘Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight’ campaign page to pressure EU leaders into delivering long-promised ATC reforms.