Travelers face significant flight delays across Europe during summer months

Travelers in Europe have faced significant flight delays recently, with a dramatic decline in punctuality compared to the same period last year. During the last week of June, approximately 5,000 flights were delayed each day, equating to over 200 delays per hour, according to the European industry association Airlines for Europe.

Bad weather has been a major contributing factor to these delays, but capacity issues also play a crucial role. Kevin Hiney, communications director for Airlines for Europe, pointed out that the situation is exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in restricted airspace across much of Europe.

Another critical issue is the shortage of air traffic controllers. Eivind Martinsen, group manager at the Swedish Transport Agency, highlighted that when airspace sectors become overloaded due to high demand, they need to be divided, which requires more controllers. He noted that Europe has faced a long-standing shortage of air traffic controllers, worsened by the pandemic.

Martinsen also mentioned that Sweden, being slightly removed from the busiest air traffic zones in Central Europe, has a relatively high capacity in its airspace. However, travelers flying from Swedish airports to popular destinations through busy airspaces like Germany and France may still experience delays.

Looking ahead, Airlines for Europe has warned that further delays could occur this summer. Despite these challenges, Hiney emphasized that airlines are striving to ensure timely flights for their customers.