Home » AIRLINE NEWS » Over Thirty-Three Million Flight Disruptions Shake Europe As Ryanair Directly Calls For Urgent Overhaul, Exposing Devastating ATC Failures And Accusing Greece, UK, Spain, And Germany Of Reckless Air Traffic Mismanagement And Negligence
Published on
November 8, 2025
Europe is reeling from over 33 million flight disruptions, with Ryanair demanding an urgent overhaul of air traffic control (ATC) systems. The airline is directly accusing Greece, the UK, Spain, and Germany of mismanagement and negligence, attributing the massive disruptions to critical ATC failures. These issues have caused severe ripple effects throughout the aviation industry, highlighting the urgent need for reform to prevent further chaos in European skies.
Ryanair has issued a strong call for urgent reform of the European Union’s air traffic control (ATC) services, pointing out that over 33 million passengers have already suffered delays due to poor ATC management this year. The airline, which has consistently advocated for improvements to the EU’s air traffic systems, is pushing for immediate action to tackle the chronic delays and inefficiencies that have become all too common at some of Europe’s busiest airports.
In its latest October ATC Delays League, Ryanair named several countries, including France, Spain, Germany, and the UK, as the worst offenders for flight delays and cancellations. According to Ryanair, these nations are failing to ensure that their ATC services are properly staffed and managed, leading to an unacceptably high number of disruptions. The airline claims that this mismanagement is causing unnecessary hardship for passengers across Europe, with millions of travelers bearing the brunt of these delays.
Ryanair’s criticism is not just limited to these four countries, however. The airline also highlights the stark contrast between these poorly managed ATC systems and the more efficient services provided by nations such as Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark. These countries, Ryanair points out, have managed to keep their ATC services running smoothly, with fewer delays and cancellations. This has been achieved through better management and adequate staffing, providing clear evidence that it is possible to avoid these disruptive delays when ATC services are properly run.
The problem, according to Ryanair, lies in the failure of governments in certain countries to prioritize the proper staffing of air traffic control services. The airline asserts that these governments are allowing their ATC systems to remain understaffed, particularly during peak travel times, which leads to widespread delays and cancellations. This situation is exacerbated by strikes, which have become more frequent in recent years and are often allowed to disrupt flights without adequate safeguards to protect passengers.
Despite repeated calls from Ryanair and the Airline for Europe (A4E) for reform, EU President Ursula von der Leyen has yet to take meaningful action to address these issues. Ryanair’s frustration with the lack of progress is evident in their latest statement, which urges all EU passengers to visit a dedicated webpage to voice their concerns and demand action. The airline has outlined two key reforms that it believes are essential to fixing the broken ATC system in Europe.
First, Ryanair is calling for national ATC services to be fully staffed during the first wave of morning flights, a crucial period when many travelers are beginning their journeys. The airline argues that if countries fail to meet this staffing requirement, they should face financial penalties. This proposal aims to ensure that ATC services are adequately prepared to handle the volume of flights during peak hours, reducing the risk of delays caused by understaffing. Ryanair believes that this reform is necessary to prevent the repeated disruptions that have become far too common in recent years.
Second, Ryanair is advocating for stronger protections for overflights during national ATC strikes. When air traffic controllers go on strike, the disruption often extends far beyond the countries directly involved, affecting flights that are merely passing through European airspace. Ryanair has pointed out that these strikes can lead to widespread delays and cancellations across the entire continent, creating a domino effect that impacts passengers from many different nations. The airline’s proposed reform calls for the EU Commission to step in and protect overflights during such strikes, ensuring that flights which are simply transiting European airspace are not grounded due to localized disruptions.
The airline industry as a whole has long recognized the need for reform in Europe’s air traffic control systems. Many airlines, including Ryanair, have repeatedly expressed concern about the state of ATC services in the EU, calling for greater coordination, better staffing, and more efficient management. The fact that some countries are able to provide smooth and reliable ATC services while others struggle with delays and cancellations suggests that reform is both necessary and achievable.
However, despite these calls for action, the European Commission and national governments have yet to implement the changes needed to fix the issue. The lack of progress on ATC reform has left millions of passengers suffering from delays and cancellations, and Ryanair believes it is time for the EU to take decisive action.
Ryanair’s call for reform comes at a time when the airline industry is still recovering from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, with the pandemic grounding flights and causing severe economic hardship for many airlines. However, as air travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, the problem of ATC delays has become more pressing. Passengers are once again traveling in large numbers, and the inefficiencies in Europe’s air traffic control services are becoming increasingly apparent.
Ryanair’s frustration with the situation is understandable, especially given the scale of the problem. With over 33 million passengers already affected by delays in 2025, the airline is urging EU authorities to act quickly and decisively. Ryanair believes that the proposed reforms are essential to improving the efficiency and reliability of Europe’s air traffic control services, ensuring that passengers can travel without the constant fear of delays and cancellations.
Over 33 million flight disruptions have shaken Europe, with Ryanair calling for an urgent overhaul of air traffic control systems, blaming Greece, the UK, Spain, and Germany for reckless mismanagement and negligence. These ATC failures have caused widespread chaos in the aviation industry.
Ryanair’s call for reform of the EU’s ATC services highlights the urgent need for change in Europe’s air traffic control systems. With millions of passengers already affected by delays and cancellations, it is clear that the current system is not working. Ryanair’s proposals, including mandatory staffing requirements for national ATC services and protections for overflights during strikes, represent a step in the right direction. However, it is now up to EU authorities to take action and implement the reforms needed to fix this broken system once and for all. The time for action is long overdue.
