Ryanair has published a list of so-called “ATC Grinches”, identifying air traffic control providers it says were responsible for disrupting Christmas travel for more than 600,000 passengers across Europe.
According to the airline, between 22 and 31 December 2025, over 3,200 Ryanair flights suffered avoidable ATC delays caused by severe staff shortages at air traffic control centres. Spain and France were the worst-performing providers, accounting for 34% and 31% of total delays respectively.
Worst ATC providers (22–31 December 2025)
- Spain: 1,098 flight delays – 197,640 passengers
- France: 999 flight delays – 179,820 passengers
- Portugal: 307 flight delays – 55,260 passengers
- Germany: 242 flight delays – 43,560 passengers
Ryanair said the scale of disruption during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, when many families were travelling with children, was unacceptable and entirely avoidable.
The airline once again called for urgent EU air traffic control reform, accusing the European Commission and its President Ursula von der Leyen of failing to address chronic ATC staffing and planning problems that continue to restrict freedom of movement for EU citizens.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said it was unacceptable that 600,000 passengers were impacted by ATC delays caused by poor staffing levels, urging the EU to deliver meaningful reform. The airline is encouraging affected passengers to visit its “Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight” webpage and contact their transport ministers to demand immediate action.
