According to IATA, Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays rose by 114% between 2015 and 2024, despite flight numbers increasing by only 6.7% in the same period. The assessment excludes weather-related delays and does not factor in cancellations resulting from ATC strikes, indicating that the systemic issues run even deeper than the published figures suggest.
Capacity limitations and chronic understaffing remain the biggest contributors to delays, with France and Germany accounting for more than half of all disruptions in the region through their Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). These issues have been widely recognised for years but have not been addressed with adequate urgency or investment.
IATA Director General Willie Walsh delivered a sharp critique of Europe’s failure to modernise and streamline its ATC performance: “We’re now seeing the consequences of Europe’s failure to get a grip on air traffic control. A small, expected improvement in 2025 from a very bad 2024 does not change the deterioration that we have seen over the last decade. Airlines and travelers were promised a Single European Sky that would cut delays and reduce fuel burn through more efficient navigation and routes. Instead, passengers have seen delays more than double. While Eurocrats debate ways to increase the burden of EU261 passenger compensation, the root cause of much of the delay suffered by travelers – air traffic control – escapes without action or censure. And Europe’s connectivity and competitiveness suffer from schedules that must accommodate ATC inefficiency. It is completely unacceptable.”
Key data from IATA’s analysis
The report highlights several notable trends underscoring the severity of the issue:
7.2 million flights were delayed between 2015 and October 2025. Of these,
– 6.4 million experienced delays of up to 30 minutes,
– 700,000 were delayed by more than 30 minutes.In 2024, delays reached 30.4 million minutes, up from 14.2 million minutes in 2015.
– 38% of all delays occurred in July and August.In 2024, 87% of ANSP-caused delays stemmed from staffing and capacity constraints.
– Staffing-related delays (excluding strikes) have increased 201.7% since 2015.Industrial action and ATC strikes now play a larger role, accounting for 8.8% of all ANSP delays.
– Over the decade, 9.8 million minutes of delays were caused by ATC strikes, including during pandemic years when air traffic volumes were historically low.
The figures reflect data through either full-year 2024 or October 2025, depending on availability. A full update is expected once complete 2025 statistics become available.
Operational implications for airlines and the travel sector
For travel and aviation professionals, the findings point to a structural challenge with direct consequences for route planning, scheduling reliability, crew management, and fuel efficiency. ATC inefficiencies also impose indirect costs, from missed connections to airport congestion and irregular operations management.
The lack of progress on the Single European Sky – a long-promised reform aimed at unifying Europe’s fragmented airspace – remains a central frustration for airlines. Without meaningful action, carriers warn that Europe’s overall competitiveness and connectivity will continue to erode as congestion grows and operational resilience weakens.
