Air Traffic Control Delays in Europe Double Over the Past Decade, IATA said

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Delays caused by air traffic control in Europe have more than doubled over the past ten years, as detailed in a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Between 2015 and 2024, Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays increased by 114%, while flight operations grew by only 6.7%. The study excludes delays due to weather and cancellations related to strikes.

France and Germany Account for Over Half of Delays

The majority of delays stem from capacity constraints and staff shortages. These are issues known for years and which, according to IATA, have not been adequately resolved. In this context, the air navigation service providers of France and Germany stand out, responsible for more than 50% of total delays.

IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, criticized the lack of progress and recalled that the promise of the Single European Sky included more efficient routes and fewer delays. “Airlines and travelers were promised a Single European Sky that would cut delays and reduce fuel burn through more efficient navigation and routes. Instead, passengers have seen delays more than double,” he stated. He added that while adjustments to EU261 regulation are being discussed, the root cause of a significant portion of delays—air traffic control—still lacks effective measures.

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Key Figures from the Report

Volume of Affected Flights

7.2 million flights experienced delays between 2015 and October 2025.

6.4 million were delays of 30 minutes or less.

700,000 flights exceeded 30 minutes of delay.

A Particularly Challenging 2024

Delays accumulated to 30.4 million minutes in 2024, compared to 14.2 million in 2015.

38% of those delays were concentrated in July and August.

Staffing and Capacity Problems

87% of delays caused by air navigation service providers in 2024 were due to staff shortages and capacity limitations.

Staff-related delays (excluding strikes) increased by 201.7% since 2015.

Strikes and Cumulative Impact

Strikes account for 8.8% of delays caused by providers.

Throughout the decade, 9.8 million minutes of delays were recorded due to air traffic control stoppages, even considering the pandemic years with minimal traffic.

The figures cover complete data for 2024 and figures up to October 2025, according to availability at the time of publication. IATA indicated that an update to the report will be released once full-year 2025 data is consolidated.

Air Traffic Control Delays in Europe Double Over the Past Decade, IATA said

France and Germany Account for Over Half of Delays