Ryanair calls on EU to act as strikes risk ‘summer of chaos’
BUDGET AIRLINE Ryanair has called for “immediate” EU action to prevent a summer of travel chaos after it revealed more than 1,100 flights were cancelled last month due to air traffic control strikes, impacting over 200,000 customers.
The Dublin-based carrier said the flight cancellations were caused largely by the strike action in France and air traffic control (ATC) staff shortages, although it added that disruption from widespread thunderstorms last month were also partly to blame.
The flight cancellations compared with just 43 in May last year, it added.
Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said: “Regrettably over 200,000 Ryanair customers had their flights cancelled in May because of ATC strikes (mostly French), ATC staff shortages and thunderstorms. Ryanair calls for immediate EU Commission action to prevent more ATC strikes and staff shortages disrupting the travel plans of Europe’s consumers this summer.”
But despite the May strike woes, Ryanair’s latest passenger traffic figures show a six per cent increase in passenger numbers last month to 12.5 million. Its load factor – a measure of how well airlines fill their planes – improved to 96 per cent from 95 per cent a year earlier.
In May, the group – headed by outspoken boss Michael O’Leary – reported a 10 per cent rise in full-year profits to €1.45bn (£1.3bn) in spite of last autumn’s flight cancellations. The annual results showed revenues jumped eight per cent to €7.15bn (£6.3bn) for the 12 months to March 31.