The CEO of Condor Airlines has said there is “no political will” to solve air traffic control (ATC) challenges in Europe.
Peter Gerber told Airlines magazine that European lawmakers have made “no attempt to tackle the powerful unions or national interests”.
He said Condor expects increasing delays this summer due to ATC strikes – as well as the “difficult geopolitical situation in [the] Middle East and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia”.
These challenges are “adding to the difficulties in European skies”, he said.
This summer, airlines have already faced severe disruption across Europe due to industrial action by ATC workers.
Gerber said: “We expect there to be more delays as the summer goes on but generally it is not airports or airlines that are the problem.
“It is air traffic control and the politicians that are making decisions about ATC.”
He continued: “Only politicians have the power to solve this issue, but there is no attempt to tackle the powerful unions or national interests. Until that happens, we won’t get a solution.
“Look at the environmental benefits we are missing out on. Maybe that is the only thing that will force politicians to make changes.
“Then again, we’ve been talking about the single European sky, which could bring a 10% CO2 reduction, for 30 years.
“We probably only need three or four ATCs in Europe but there is no political will to do this. We see some progress, but it soon diminishes.”
