Air traffic control predicts ‘overload’, warns of ‘harsh’ summer for holidaymakers

Vacationers are being warned of summer chaos as air traffic control predicts “overloading” at European airports. LondonBrussels and Barcelona.

Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, will have a ‘tough’ summer as peak summer season begins as air traffic control prepares for an estimated 33,000 flights per day over the next eight weeks reported concerns that

This is about 8% more than the number of flights across Europe for the same period last year.

The warning comes as Britons plan to make more than 25 million international trips between now and September, most of them by plane.

Eurocontrol also mentioned the upcoming war. Ukraine As a factor in delays due to the military needing more airspace.

It also predicts that major regions such as Athens, Budapest and France, especially Reims and Marseille, will experience a “heavy load” of traffic on an almost daily basis.

On peak days, especially on Fridays and summer weekends, air transport companies expect overloading in London, Barcelona, ​​Brussels, Budapest, Nicosia, Warsaw and Zagreb. Times report.

Overloading can seriously affect travel and cause significant delays, especially if aircraft are forced to take longer routes to avoid congested areas.

Eurocontrol Executive Director Raul Medina said: “This summer in Europe is going to be tough as the war in Ukraine and military demands mean less available airspace…we all have our part to play. must be fulfilled,” he said.

“Airports need to be fully staffed, which is very important.” [air traffic services] Provide ample capacity and airlines adhere to schedules. ”

At a meeting of the International Airports Council in Barcelona, ​​Medina said increased military activity had reduced available airspace by up to 20%, with some control centers seeing far more traffic from rerouted flights. said to be facing

He added, “Recent industrial action has caused a lot of delays. Situations like this can be dealt with in quieter times, but it would be even more difficult if it happened in the middle of summer.”

The forecast of 33,000 flights per day falls short of the 37,228 flights per day recorded in June 2019, but there are external factors that pose a greater threat.

The number of air traffic controllers has been declining since the pandemic, partly due to the struggle to recruit air traffic controllers. On the other hand, strikes could play a big role in the coming ‘challenging’ summer.

Willie Walsh, president of the International Air Transport Association, warned air traffic control last month that June’s disruptions were “well above normal”.

He added: “We are in a chaotic situation where we see air traffic control strikes almost every day. Airlines are forced to reroute to other countries, disrupting traffic not only in France but throughout Europe.” .

Ryanair president Michael O’Leary said an air traffic control strike in France is one of the biggest threats to summer travel.

Short-haul flights from the UK and Spain are often heavily impacted by strikes in France, as French authorities prioritize domestic departures and long-haul flights.

This will ultimately result in the cancellation of short-haul flights that use French airspace but do not land in France.

A 34-hour strike by French air traffic controllers ended on June 30. This is the 60th day of action by airport officials against President Emmanuel Macron’s hateful pension reforms.

Britons have also been urged to check the latest foreign ministry advice before traveling to France following the “execution” of a 17-year-old Algerian boy by police.

Vacationers are said to be “more important than ever to have travel insurance and make sure it offers adequate coverage”.