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The chief executive of a popular low-cost airline has cautioned that travelers in Europe will once again encounter flight disruptions due to air traffic control issues during the summer season.
Marion Geoffroy, the UK’s director of Wizz Air, stated on The Independent’s travel podcast that air traffic control delays will not be resolved by summer 2024.
In the summer of 2023, there were many flight delays in Europe due to increased demands on air traffic control from airlines and their passengers.
The shortage of controllers was made worse by the closure of Ukrainian airspace.
Ms. Geoffroy stated that there will definitely be delays in July and August, but she also mentioned that there are buffers built into the schedule to ensure the operation stays on track.
During the summer of 2023, numerous flight cancellations were attributed to limitations imposed by air-traffic control. This even led to easyJet grounding the same flight on multiple nights in a row.
Eurocontrol, the pan-European air-traffic coordinator, predicts that there will be a minimum five percent rise in traffic during the summer of 2024.
The amount of pressure will rise as a result of added flights to and from Germany during the Euro 2024 football championships in June and July, and also catering to Paris for the upcoming Olympics.
Eurocontrol has established five main objectives for the summer season.
- Air-traffic control to deliver the agreed capacity
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Airline companies are implementing more practical scheduling.
- All to prioritise the first rotation of aircraft
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To guarantee strict adherence to the flight plan during the flight.
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Everyone can help improve the management of convective weather.
A representative from Eurocontrol stated that the aviation industry is providing strong support for this strategy and they are optimistic that this collective effort will be successful.
The managing director of Wizz Air UK announced the addition of a new Airbus A321neo aircraft to their fleet. The aircraft, which cost £100 million and can accommodate 239 passengers, will be stationed at Wizz Air’s main UK hub in Luton airport.
The addition of the A321neo to Wizz Air’s UK fleet brings down the average age of their planes from 2.07 years to 1.97 years, making it the youngest in Europe. It is said to have a 20% decrease in fuel usage and carbon emissions, and produces almost half the noise of older aircrafts.
Ms Geoffroy emphasized the significance of recognizing one’s environmental impact. She has been engaging with younger generations to gain insight into their travel choices. While they do prioritize affordability, they also consider the environmental consequences and do not wish to restrict their experiences. Ultimately, they have a desire to explore the world.
“That aligns with our capabilities: affordability and environmental responsibility.”
Wizz Air currently has a total of over 300 A321neo planes in its order.
Source: independent.co.uk
