In a statement on its website, the low-cost airline Ryanair accused the air traffic control in the Greek capital Athens of causing regular delays to flights to and from the Greek capital due to poor management and insufficient staff, BTA reported.
According to the Irish airline, a technical problem at the Athens air traffic control center caused unnecessary delays to flights to and from Greece on Wednesday, including 12 Ryanair flights with over 2,000 passengers.
The airline claims that between January 1 and August 20 this year, more than 5,000 of its flights with over 900,000 passengers were delayed due to “mismanagement and understaffing“ at the Greek air traffic control centre, which has been ranked “the fifth worst performing“ in Europe for flight delays.
“Ryanair“ is calling for reform of the entire “chaotic system of air traffic management in Europe”. The airline has called European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “Ursula von ‘Derlayed-Again’” and said the EC is committed to achieving competitiveness and efficiency in Europe, while “continues to allow poor air traffic management to repeatedly cause problems for flights and passengers“.
“Ryanair“ says it has long been pushing for reforms to the EU air traffic control sector and is urging passengers to visit a website entitled “ATC ruined your flight“ and from there send emails to the relevant transport ministers demanding reform of the sector.