IATA attack on delays

Governments and air navigation service providers across Europe have been asked by IATA to address the region’s airspace bottlenecks, as new data revealed that delays so far this year have more than doubled compared to 2017.

Director-general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said too many passengers were being disappointed on their travels because of air traffic delays. “We should be making progress, but we’re not,” he added.

“There is no quick fix for this year. But the needed solutions are well known. With the correct investment and planning by governments and ANSPs, we can, and must, make next year better.”

Eurocontrol said Air Traffic Management (ATM) delays in the first half of 2018 totalled 47,000min per day, 133% more than the same period last year, caused mostly by staffing and capacity shortages, weather and disruptive events such as strikes.

IATA is calling on the EC, member states and ANSPs to take “urgent action” with a four-point plan, principally modernising the infrastructure and implementing the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), something airlines are already paying for.

The organisation is also saying outdated work practices should be reformed so staff are deployed when they’re required and, where justified, additional staff are recruited.

www.iata.org

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