Irish holidaymakers are being cautioned about potential flight delays this summer due to an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers across parts of Europe.
Kenny Jacobs, CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority, spoke earlier this week, expressing concern that reduced air traffic control capacity could lead to disruptions for passengers traveling to and from Ireland in the coming months. Jacobs emphasized that while delays are expected, they are likely to be several hours long rather than days.
Eoghan Corry, a travel expert and editor of travelextra.ie, highlighted that the surge in air traffic this year has placed additional strain on the air traffic control system, particularly in France and Spain. Corry noted that Ireland has returned to pre-pandemic levels of air traffic, and Germany is nearing 90% of its pre-pandemic traffic levels. France, he added, is expected to operate at about 95% of its pre-pandemic capacity, further exacerbating the pressure on air traffic controllers.
“The increase in air traffic this year is putting an already-stretched air traffic control system under considerable strain,” Corry explained. “The hardest-hit areas are likely to be around Marseille, with routes to popular Mediterranean destinations like Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Spain most affected.”
The shortage of air traffic controllers has already impacted some airlines, including Ryanair, with approximately 10% of its daily flights experiencing delays.
As the summer season approaches, passengers are advised to monitor flight status updates and allow extra time for travel, especially for routes to southern Europe, where the pressure on air traffic control services is expected to be most severe.
