Ryanair boss slams 'scandal' of UK flight delays for millions of passengers
Ryanair has singled out the UK as among the worst countries in Europe for air traffic control-caused flight delays - as the airline demanded the European Commission take action
Ryanair has launched a withering attack on air traffic control delays in the UK and a number of other countries.
Boss Michael O'Leary claimed a 'scandal' of short staffing and mismanagement had caused widespread disruption for the airline and passengers. He singled out air traffic control in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Greece.
Mr O'Leary said it 'can no longer be tolerated', as he called on the European Commission to intervene.
Ryanair stepped up its attack by comparing the five countries with five others with, it said, the best track record on delays. The Irish airline said 3,380 of its flights last year were impacted by delays on UK air traffic control, soaring to 35,100 in France. Yet that compared with just 210 in Slovakia that had delays, and only 70 in Ireland.
Mr O'Leary branded operators in France, Spain, Germany, Greece and the UK 'hopelessly mismanaged'. He went on: 'The difference is that these are protected state monopolies, who don't care about customer service, they don't care about passengers, and they don't care about their airline customers either. Every year they are short-staffed and they are responsible for over 90% of Europe's flight delays, which adds an extra 10% to aviation emissions in Europe.
Mr O'Leary added: 'Ryanair, our customers, and our passengers are fed up with these avoidable ATC delays, which are imposed on us every Summer by the French, the Germans, the Spanish, the Greeks and the British. All that is necessary to properly manage their ATC service is to recruit and train sufficient air traffic controllers, just as the Irish, the Danes, the Dutch, the Belgians and the Slovakians have already shown.
"It is time for this European mismanagement and incompetence to end, or for ATC services of France, Germany, Spain, Greece, and the UK to be opened up to the competition.'
Ryanair last week issued a warning to holidaymakers after travel chaos at several airports in Portugal meant that hundreds were left stranded at departure gates. The budget airline said more than 270 passengers have missed their flights over the past two weeks due to extensive queues and chronic understaffing at border control.
The worst delays are being felt in Faro, Lisbon and Porto airports, with wait times reportedly stretching to a staggering two and a half hours. In a statement, Ryanair called the situation as "completely unacceptable", calling on Portugal's new government to sort out the staffing crisis.
Ryanair placed the blame with airport operator ANA, accusing it of failing to prepare adequately for the annual summer travel surge.
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Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘For a small island, it has an enormous coastline': Timmy Mallett cycles 3,500 miles around Irish seaboard
Former children's TV presenter Timmy Mallett aimed to 'bring a smile with every mile' as he cycled more than 3,500 miles around Ireland's entire coastline. The English broadcaster is best known for presenting roles on TV-am and the Wide Awake Club, as well as for his 1990 number one hit 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini'. Recently, the 69-year-old has taken to the coastal roads of the island of Ireland, after circumnavigating all of Great Britain in 2023. Having cycled all 905 miles around NI last year, he initially returned this year to tackle the Wild Atlantic Way. However, with bathroom renovations still ongoing at home, his wife encouraged him to tackle the whole of the island. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph at the Titanic Slipway — his starting point three months ago — Mallett said he was largely inspired by his late brother Martin, who passed away in 2018. 'I have two big brothers: Paul, the eldest, and Martin,' Mallett explained. 'Martin, with language and learning difficulties, never let Down's syndrome define him. 'You found that Martin would live every minute of the day in the moment, the here and now. 'I realised that with Martin, with his gift for living in the now, it was really important. He would say: 'Ah, buba, you and me. I'm happy.' 'So, this is a journey about inspiring people to reach their potential. We don't have to be the best yet, just the best that we can be. 'I am keen on curiosity. I think curiosity is a fine and fabulous attribute that we don't pay enough attention to. 'I like seeing what you can find on your own around the corner. 'I cycled round the coast of Waterford. I came to 'Norn Iron' to see if I could do a circumnavigation of it. Nine-hundred and five miles later, [I realised] it's an enormous country. That is when I heard a small voice: 'Don't forget the forgotten county' — Donegal, further north, which is weirdly in the South. So, I did another 550 miles covering the coast of Donegal, all those finger peninsulas. 'That is when I wondered if I could do some more, to go down the Wild Atlantic Way. 'Two months later, I go to Kinsale, and Mrs Mallett said: 'Well, I am doing the bathroom in the house... Why don't you just keep going to see how far around the rest of the country you can go?' 'That is what this moment [arriving at Titanic Slipway] is about, because I have now cycled around the entire coast of the island of Ireland. For a small island, it has an enormous coastline. It transpires that I have cycled over 3,500 miles. That's a lot of coastline.' With such a famous face on the road, Mallett was stopped 'every kilometre, every day' by fans. 'It's a wonderful and joyful moment, because I make it a rule to always stop. I have found that this island... the Irish have a profound gift for kindness and generosity. There is a warmth of a welcome that is truly lovely. 'There is something special to somebody around these islands. Some highlights would include going to Blacksod Lighthouse in Co Mayo. 'There, I came across the grandson of Maureen Sweeney. In 1944, Maureen had been sending weather reports which she didn't know were crucial for the D-Day landings. 'Now, at the same time, my mum was working at the Supreme headquarters on the weather forecasting for D-Day. 'Maureen's grandson Fergus says that on that day, when she sent her weather forecast, a squeaky-voiced English lady picked up the phone to check the report. 'And I love the fact that these two women had a role in this titanic struggle of the time in D-Day. 'It was lovely to hear the other side of that story 80 years later. I think it has been an important pilgrimage.' When asked about his transition from TV presenter to adventurer and painter, Mallett described his life as having 'different aspects'. 'I think that we all have different aspects in our lives, and talents can be important for us to develop. 'I've been lucky enough. I had a great TV career, I had a number one hit record throughout the world, and now my art is collected across the globe. 'The important thing really is to reach our potential, make the most of each and every day, and to bring a smile. Bring a smile with every mile.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
An absolute joy: Timmy Mallet completes cycle around island of Ireland
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Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
An absolute joy: Timmy Mallet completes cycle around island of Ireland
While on the 6,000km cycle of roads, paths and greenways, he discovered a family link to Blacksod Lighthouse in Co Mayo that has deeply affected him. The colourful personality is known for his children's television series in the 80s and 90s and cover of Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. He embarked on a cycle circumnavigation around Great Britain in 2023 to raise awareness of people's potential after the death of his brother Martin, who had Down's Syndrome and died in 2018. He began a cycle along Northern Ireland's and Donegal's coast in March last year, before returning to cycle around the whole island. 'This is the completion of my cycle circumnavigation of the island of Ireland,' he said at Stormont on Monday. 'I kicked off in lashing rain in March last year when I aimed to see if I could do a cycle circumnavigation of Northern Ireland.' He said he then decided he would add the 'forgotten county' of Donegal. 'Further north than Northern Ireland, but in the south. I love that nuttiness,' he said. 'Five hundred and fifty miles after completing Donegal, I thought to myself I'd like to come back and see if I could do the Wild Atlantic Way.' He said he put aside two months to do as much of the Wild Atlantic Way as possible, and got as far as Kinsale in Co Cork. 'I phoned up Mrs Mallet and she said 'I'm having the bathroom done, so just keep going, I'm not ready to have you home yet, Mallet'.' He said it was 'an absolute joy' to complete the circumnavigation of the island. He added: 'There's something about the kindness and generosity on this island that is really lovely. It's profoundly gorgeous, this welcome that comes across the whole of Ireland. 'I am thrilled to say I have got a squillion new friends in Ireland and I love it. It's almost in the DNA of the Irish actually to say 'welcome, come on in, we're your friends'.' He said Ireland had 'an understanding of differences' and celebrated things that bring people together. He added: 'I'm inspired on this journey by my brother Martin (who had) language and learning difficulties. He never let Down's Syndrome define him. He'd say 'You and me, I'm happy.' 'That's about being in the moment, celebrating the here and now of living. It reminds me that all we have to do in life is reach our potential. We don't have to be the best in the world, just the best that we can be.' He recounted highlights of the trip, including a family connection at a Mayo lighthouse and a person who helped during Wacaday filming 35 years ago. 'I went to Blacksod Lighthouse in Co Mayo which has got a family connection for me that I didn't know,' he said. 'The weather forecast for D-Day was supplied by Maureen Sweeney in June 1944 and my mum was working at supreme headquarters, at the time, on the weather forecasting for D-Day. 'And Maureen's grandson Fergus tells the story of how a squeaky-voiced English lady phoned up to check Maureen's reports. That was my mum. 'This connection of two women, in a cataclysmic world event, doing their bit for freedom has had a profound impact on me. 'I also loved the journey down further south, in Dingle, where I meet Jimmy Flannery who had taken me, 35 years ago during the Wacaday filming, to meet and swim with Fungi the dolphin. 'And here he is there still and we shared happy memories of that day of filming 35 years ago in 1990. 'On the border between North and the Republic, I came across that lovely conundrum, if you like, where somebody's house is in the UK but their garden is in the Republic. 'They were living with it all day every day and enjoying the best of both sides of that wee border.' He added: 'I'm coming back, I love you. Keep 'er lit. This is a gorgeous, gorgeous country.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met with Mallet at Stormont on Monday.
