Ryanair CEO: EU ATC providers 'reaching the point of meltdown'

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary warned (24-Jul-2018) European ATC providers are "reaching the point of meltdown with hundreds of flights being cancelled and delayed daily". Mr O'Leary particularly targeted French ATC strikes, commenting: "When Greece and Italy have ATC strikes, overflights continue as normal... Why won't France do the same?". Mr O'Leary also alleged ATC providers, especially in Germany and the UK, are "hiding behind adverse weather and euphemisms such as 'capacity restrictions' when the truth is they are not rostering enough air traffic controllers to cater for the number of flights that are scheduled to operate". He concluded: "These disruptions are unacceptable, and we call on Europe's Governments and the EU Commission to take urgent and decisive action to ensure that ATC providers are fully staffed and that overflights are not affected when national strikes take place". [more - original PR]