Ryanair is fighting back against widespread flight delays: The largest low-cost airline in Europe has launched an unprecedented campaign against what it claims is the main cause of thousands of flight delays — the European air traffic control system. Under the title “Delay League,” the company published a list of countries whose air traffic control services were found to be particularly problematic: Those suffering from staff shortages, poor management, and inadequate preparation for the surge in flights — especially during morning hours, when any delay tends to cascade and impact the rest of the day.

Ryanair’s initiative is intended to apply both public and political pressure. The company isn’t satisfied with merely presenting the data — it is also calling on the general public, including passengers from Israel flying with Ryanair to Athens, Rome, Budapest, Bucharest, and other destinations, to visit a dedicated page on its website where they can fill out a pre-written complaint letter and send it directly to the transportation minister of the country considered a bottleneck. This is an unprecedented move by an airline against governmental regulatory bodies.

Ryanair is clear about its goal: To push European governments to fund and improve air traffic control services and put an end to recurring delays. According to the company, 2024 was the worst year for air traffic control delays — despite fewer flights in Europe compared to the pre-COVID era. Company data shows that the severe delays occurred even though air traffic control fees have jumped by about 35% in recent years, far exceeding inflation rates. Despite the high costs, says CEO Michael O’Leary, authorities have failed to provide even basic service, leading to financial losses for airlines and serious disruptions for passengers.

Ryanair. Publishes the Delay League (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Ryanair. Publishes the Delay League (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
The problem, according to Ryanair, lies not only in the limited number of controllers but primarily in poor planning. Morning flights — the backbone of the flight schedule for most low-cost carriers, including Ryanair — are frequently delayed due to staff shortages in control towers. These delays accumulate throughout the day and disrupt the entire flight schedule. In many cases, a flight delayed by 45 minutes in the morning causes cascading delays of several hours for all the plane’s subsequent flights that day.

The publication of the “League” includes a ranking of the worst-performing countries, though Ryanair has yet to release the full list. However, industry sources noted that it primarily concerns Western European countries — including France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain — which are burdened with heavy air traffic and frequent controller strikes. While Israel does not face issues on such a scale, delays on flights to these destinations also impact Israeli passengers flying with Ryanair — especially during peak tourist season in July and August.

CEO O’Leary, known for his blunt and provocative remarks, harshly criticized European transportation ministers, stating, “They cannot continue to ignore this crisis.” According to him, “Air traffic control authorities receive the airlines’ flight schedules many months in advance, and there is no excuse for not recruiting and training enough controllers in preparation for the summer.”

In his view, solving the crisis is not complicated. It involves two steps: Accelerated recruitment of new air traffic controllers and protection for cross-border flights — even during local controller strikes. He claims these measures could reduce about 90% of current delays. However, he says, political indifference prevents a real solution.

A New Conversation in the Aviation Industry

In recent years, Ryanair flights have become a key transportation option for young families, post-army youth, and even businesspeople seeking a cheap alternative to traditional airlines. The fact that the company is pointing the finger at air traffic control authorities — rather than the airlines themselves — signals a shift in the conversation within the aviation industry and the opening of a front against institutions that were previously considered immune to public criticism.

Passengers interested in following the campaign’s developments are invited to visit Ryanair’s dedicated page — where they can also check whether their flight was affected by delays caused by air traffic control. The company promises to update the list weekly and to publish a monthly ranking of the worst-performing countries in Europe in terms of air traffic control.

Low-cost airplane. Prefer not to connect (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Low-cost airplane. Prefer not to connect (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)

Currently, it seems Ryanair’s moves won’t impact Israelis: The company canceled all flights to Israel at the beginning of the week through at least July. Based on the harsh criticism voiced by CEO Michael O’Leary, it appears the company won’t resume operations in Israel until the end of the year. The company claimed that due to the war in Israel, it had to bear cancellation costs totaling $3.8 million.

Beyond Ryanair’s home country of Ireland — which in recent years has adopted an anti-Israel stance — the company previously complained that it was forced to operate from the more expensive Terminal 3, instead of Terminal 1, which allows boarding and deplaning via staircases and faster access to the runway. This setup lets aircraft stay in motion longer, a critical element for low-cost carriers that prefer not to use jet bridges at airports due to the high costs and longer ground times.