European aviation: Air traffic management body Eurocontrol reveals factors hindering sector’s recovery Continued from page 56


cancellations, substantial delays and uncertainty for passengers.” Almost twice as many flights


(6.9%) were cancelled in 2022 as in 2019 (3.5%) despite fewer flights being scheduled. The late arrival of aircraft,


crew, passengers and bags was the main cause of delays, responsible for almost half the total (46%). Airline, ground handling and airport delays were the second major driver, at 31% of the total, and air traffic delays the third-biggest cause at 17%. The London area air traffic


control centre at Swanwick was Europe’s busiest, followed by Karlsruhe (Germany) and Maastricht (Netherlands). However, Karlsruhe had “by far the highest delay levels” due to “insufficient capacity”, with delays up 165% on 2019. Eurocontrol attributed half (48%) of air traffic control delays to staffing, 25% to bad weather and 22% “to system implementations”, principally at Reims (France). As a result, Germany (30%)


and France (21%) accounted for more than half of air traffic delays across Europe, while the UK and Spain together accounted for 12% despite the UK having the busiest airspace and Spain the third-busiest. Lisbon and Frankfurt saw


the lowest rates of on-time departure among Europe’s biggest airports, with just over half (54%) of flights departing Lisbon punctually and 56% at Frankfurt. Gatwick recorded a 57.5% punctuality rate and Heathrow 61%. Wizz Air and British Airways


were the least punctual of Europe’s top-10 airlines, but Turkish Airlines cancelled more flights than other leading carriers.


Brennan: Averting 2023 delays is ‘immense task’


Ian Taylor


European air traffic management body Eurocontrol has warned of a risk of “major” delays to flights this summer following the widespread disruption of last year. The warning came in


Eurocontrol’s latest air traffic forecast for Europe, issued at the turn of the year, which stated: “We anticipate a risk of major air traffic flow management [ATFM] delays.” Eurocontrol reported it is


“working closely” with air navigation service providers and airlines on “mitigation measures” as well as “working more closely with airports to prepare for summer 2023”. Mitigation measures could


include revised capacities in some airspace sectors, reorganised airspace and flight rerouteing. However, it warned: “Getting


closer to pre-pandemic traffic levels will not be easy. Ramping back up close to 90% of 2019 traffic over the


Which? calls for CAA’s powers to be strengthened


Consumer publication Which? urged the government to strengthen the CAA’s powers to clamp down on airlines that fail to comply with consumer rights legislation when


flights are delayed or cancelled. Which? research found 39%


of travellers reported a lack of confidence in airlines’ behaviour when there are delays or cancellations, with half (49%) of


54 12 JANUARY 2023


Eamonn Brennan


of industrial action in response to economic conditions is rising.” Eurocontrol added: “Airspace


summer [of 2022] caused immense difficulties.” Eurocontrol suggested: “2023 will


be a watershed year for the network, requiring all actors to pull out all the stops to keep delays down against a backdrop of ongoing airspace issues triggered by the Ukraine war, extra aircraft in the system, possible industrial action, ongoing staffing challenges, [air traffic control] system changes and the return of demand from China and the Far East.” It argued: “While staffing issues may progressively be solved, the risk


those who suffered a delay on their most recent flight unhappy. It described the failure of some


airlines to make travellers aware of their rights a “systemic problem” and demanded the government “urgently” clarify how and when the


CAA’s powers would be bolstered. Which? policy director Rocio


Concha said: “After the unacceptable delays and disruption last year, the transport secretary must urgently set out plans to equip the regulator with greater enforcement powers so it can hold airlines to account.” CAA consumer director Paul


Smith said: “We’ve regularly asked for stronger consumer


enforcement powers, including the ability to impose fines on airlines. This would allow us to take faster action. Proposals outlined in the government’s consultation on enforcement powers [in 2022], will equip us with better tools to act swiftly if implemented.”


travelweekly.co.uk


unavailability [due to the war in Ukraine] will continue to disrupt flows and put pressure on certain sectors [of airspace]. This will further exacerbate demand as airlines restore capacity, and demand from key Asian markets progressively returns following China’s decision to ease travel restrictions. Planned system changes will also impact flows and capacity.” It warned keeping delays down


“will require formidable efforts from all operational actors”. Eamonn Brennan, Eurocontrol


director general, noted “a backdrop of supply chain issues, possible industrial action, airspace unavailability, sector bottlenecks, rising demand and system changes” and said: “2023 is set to be the most challenging year of the last decade. Keeping summer delays down will be an immense task.”


Paul Smith


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