Summer is here – and so is a sharp increase in air traffic. Yet again, we see a rise in flight delays and cancellations due to the structural limitations of the European aviation system.

Air traffic management (ATM), in particular, is put in the spotlight, deprived of resources to ensure fluid and punctual operations without compromising on the necessary levels of safety.

Meanwhile, airlines and institutions have started their usual blame game. ATM providers and their staff are the favourite target.

Every year, this mediatic noise distracts public opinion and most decision-makers from the root causes of the problem.

Summer delays and cancellations are mainly the consequence of extreme cost-efficiency policies for ATM and airlines’ overly aggressive competition.

If we want to mitigate this problem, we must change the current EU Performance Scheme for ATM providers, give the right incentives to all market operators, and limit their unreasonable, unsustainable competitive behaviours.

Here we are be explaining the true reality behind this recurring problem and presenting the realistic, long-term solutions the system needs.

Workers are the first impacted

Flight delays and cancellations affect the holiday plans of millions of European citizens every year. But have you ever wondered how this impacts the lives of the people who must be there in every flight, working for the best journey possible?

Watch Kris Major, Chair of our Joint Aircrew Committee, tell us how it feels to deal with disruptions as a worker and to which extent the industry’s competition has become overly aggressive.

Delayed or not delayed, our priority is clear: SAFETY.

And for this, we need a safety environment, rested and motivated staff, and good social legislation.

Airlines’ blame game is just for show

Every summer, airlines and other stakeholders take all the media space they can to blame air traffic management (ATM) for ruining their business.
As if ATM was the only factor creating delays and cancellations.
We know that ATM is not the beginning and the end of all disruptions. Eurocontrol numbers put it very clearly: last summer, out of 21,4 min of average delay, only 2,35 min were caused by ATM.

So all the remaining share of delays is what airlines and other stakeholders decide to leave out of the conversation.
Read our paper uncovering cancellation myths to find out why.
Eurocontrol’s numbers about last summer.

Let’s talk about turnaround times

Click the image to see our socials

One of the major reasons for delays is the unattainable turnaround times that airlines base their flight planning on. Given all actions needed while the aircraft is on land, it’s no surprise that these time targets are not always met. Departures are, then, “delayed”.

Aviation workers will never compromise on safety to meet economic targets imposed on them. A shortcut may mean a terrible accident for all of us. In the meantime, aircrew and ground workers accumulate incredible levels of stress and fatigue. Passengers feel this pressure too. The whole operation becomes unsustainable for business and for people.

If airlines want less delays, they can start by something well within reach: being more reasonable in their own business decisions, stopping the      pressure on turnaround times.

Rreforming the ATM Performance Scheme

Every summer, Europe’s air traffic management system struggles to deal with the increase of air traffic. ATM workers know that the main reason for this is the unfit ATM Performance Scheme brought by the EU on national ATM providers.

While we acknowledge the need for such a EU-wide scheme, we need deep changes in the one we have.

In our most recent position paper, we present the main shortcomings of the current scheme and innovating ideas to reform it. In a system struggling with capacity shortage, cutting costs cannot be the first priority over any other. On top of this, we need a more realistic assessment of safety, capacity and environment.

Workers must be heard in the drafting process of the new Performance Scheme for Reference Period 5 (RP5). Following a letter sent to Commissioner Tzitzikostas on 18 July, we invite all other relevant actors to consider our demands and engage in effective dialogue.