Europe's largest low-cost carrier Ryanair has published data showing that over 600,000 of its passengers were affected by flight delays between December 22-31, 2025. The company claims that the reason is “insufficient staffing and poor management“ of several European air traffic control (ATC) services.
More than 3,200 flights were delayed around the holiday period, the airline said. The largest share of delays were due to control centers in Spain (34%) and France (31%), followed by Portugal and Germany.
The company described the situation as “unacceptable“, especially at one of the busiest times of the year, when many people travel with their families.
Call for EU for reforms
Ryanair used the occasion to reiterate its long-standing call for reform of the European air traffic management system. According to the carrier the lack of coordination between national air traffic control centers leads to systematic delays and restricts the free movement of citizens within the Community.
The company's CEO Eddie Wilson said it was “time for action by the European Commission“, calling on passengers to demand change.
The topic of reforms in the European aviation sector is not new. In recent years, airlines - both low-cost and scheduled - have repeatedly called for greater synchronisation of air traffic control and more efficient human resource planning, especially during peak times. The European Commission has not yet presented a new reform plan, but the issue remains on the agenda after a series of transport crises during the holiday seasons.