In these countries, flight delays are the norm. Ryanair has published an infamous list

Flying around Europe, especially during the high holiday season, can be associated with delays. In previous years, millions of passengers have suffered due to staff shortages or air traffic controller strikes. Ryanair has appealed to the authorities of the European Union countries where it believes the problem is most serious. Its infamous "Delay League" list includes places such as France and Spain.

Ryanair criticizes European Union countries

Which countries have the worst air traffic control service? According to Ryanair, the biggest flight delays in Europe are caused by poor management in five European Union countries: France, Spain, Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom. 2024 was a record year in this case. "While ATC delays have increased dramatically, ATC fees imposed on airlines and passengers have increased twice as fast as inflation," reads the carrier's information. Unfortunately, the first five months of 2025 have not brought any improvement. As a result of the problems in France, there have already been over 15,000 flight delays, affecting almost 3 million passengers.

The carrier appeals to ministers

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, known for his bold statements and uncompromising policy, spoke out on the matter. "We will hold EU transport ministers accountable for allowing repeated, unnecessary and avoidable ATC delays. National air traffic control services are informed of flight schedules almost a year in advance, so there is no excuse for not properly preparing staff," says the Irish entrepreneur, drawing attention primarily to delays in the morning operational wave, which then affect flights later in the day. O'Leary also appealed to passengers, whom he encouraged to write complaints against selected transport ministers.

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