We are nearing the end of the summer season, and now we draw the line and take a look at the flight situation. It has not been an easy year for most airlines around the world. The aviation crisis continues and airports and air operators continue to face labor shortages.
In the context in which passenger air traffic has returned close to the values of 2019, a year considered a benchmark in aviation, the lack of labor force has led to numerous problems for airports, airlines, but also for passengers.
Thousands of flights were cancelled or delayed, generating discomfort for millions of passengers. Some airports and airlines have been able to keep up with the rapid increase in passenger numbers, but many others have not. To which we add the industrial strikes – the traffic controllers strike in France / the airport staff strike in Italy / the airline employees strike like RYANAIR etc which in turn led to canceled / delayed flights.
Below you have five airports that reported the most canceled / delayed flights.
London Gatwick (LGW)
It found that 54,08% of scheduled flights from London Gatwick were delayed or cancelled. This makes Gatwick the airport where 1 in XNUMX flights are delayed. London is one of the most visited destinations in Europe, but its airports don't have the best reputation.
So if you have concerns about flying to Gatwick or Heathrow, you could consider flying to London City, London Stansted, London Luton or London Southend airports. London is the city with the most commercial airports in Europe.
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
51,04% of flights from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport were delayed or cancelled. Lisbon has only one airport, so passengers are spoiled for choice. Those who want to travel to Lisbon must take into account possible delayed or canceled flights. Lisbon Airport is Portugal's main air gateway, being transited by 14 million passengers every year.
Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH)
50,88% of scheduled flights from Copenhagen Kastrup Airport were delayed or cancelled. This is the largest airport in Denmark. This means that if you are planning to fly into Copenhagen, then you have no choice but to fly into Copenhagen Kastrup Airport.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
50,60% of scheduled flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport were delayed or cancelled. Obviously, most of them belong to Air France. Passengers affected by flights canceled or delayed for more than three hours (at destination), can benefit from Air France flight delay compensation.
We remind you that if you fly on EU territory or from the EU to other non-EU destinations (regardless of whether the flight is operated by a company inside or outside the EU), you have the right to compensation financial up to €600. These compensations are set according to the distance:
- 250 Euro for distance flights below 1500 km - regional and domestic flights
- 400 euros for flights between 1500-3500 km
- 600 euros for flights over distances over 3500 km (with a minimum delay of 4 hours)
- 300 euros for flights over distances over 3500 km (delayed between 3 and 4 hours)
Coming back, Charles de Gaulle is the largest airport in France and the second busiest in Europe. The only European airport more crowded is Heathrow in London.
But Charles de Gaulle is not the only airport in Paris. Paris-Orly is the second airport of Paris and although smaller, you can fly to Orly from most European countries, less so from Bucharest.
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Finally, 47,34% of flights at Antalya Airport were delayed or cancelled. Whoever flew from / to Antalya, inevitably faced a canceled or delayed flight. Most of the flights operated from / to Antalya were chartered.
But if you're planning a trip to Turkey, then why not consider flying into Istanbul? Istanbul has been listed as one of the most reliable European airports with the fewest delays and cancellations. Only 32,15% of flights at Istanbul Havalimani Airport (IST) were disrupted.
In conclusion, the summer of 2023 was not one of the best for aviation, but it was much better than the summer of 2022. Let's hope that in 2024 things will go back to normal and flights will no longer be a lottery. Airlines, such as Wizz Air announced additional measures to avoid flight cancellations or delays.
