Fewer Flight Disruptions in Germany and Europe During First Half of 2019
Flight delays and cancellations saw a slight decrease in Germany and Europe during the first half of 2019. Flightright's analysis indicates approximately 7,400 flights were canceled and nearly 50,000 flights were delayed by over 30 minutes.
Flight disruptions, including delays and cancellations, experienced a slight reduction in Germany and Europe during the first six months of 2019. According to an analysis by the passenger rights portal Flightright, nearly 7,400 flights were canceled in Germany, marking a 23 percent decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. Additionally, close to 50,000 flights were delayed by more than 30 minutes, a figure also showing a marginal decline.
Frankfurt Airport led Germany's delay statistics, with almost 12 percent of flights departing late. Dresden registered the highest cancellation rate, at approximately three percent of flights. While these airports were also at the top of the negative rankings last year, the overall figures have improved. Leipzig Airport recorded the fewest delays (4.8 percent), and Berlin Schönefeld had the lowest cancellation rate (0.4 percent).
Sebastian Legler, CEO of Flightright, noted a slight positive trend in flight disruptions. "The consequences of the Air Berlin bankruptcy are less significant this year than in 2018," Legler stated. He added that airlines have learned from their operational bottlenecks of the past year, but the situation during the summer months remains to be seen, with airspace continuing to be at its capacity limits.
In a European comparison involving the 40 largest airports, London airports such as Luton and Stansted performed well with very few cancellations (0.2 percent). Conversely, Oslo Airport had the highest cancellation rate in Europe (2.6 percent). The punctually performing European airports were Las Palmas, London Stansted, and Paris Orly. Flights from Lisbon, Warsaw, and Amsterdam were frequently delayed by more than 30 minutes.
Flightright estimates that the delays and cancellations from the first half of 2019 result in potential compensation claims of around 500 million euros for passengers, a decrease of over 100 million euros from the previous year. Legal expert Oskar de Felice highlighted that this sum does not reflect the actual compensation paid, as many passengers are still unaware of their rights or face challenges in successfully claiming compensation from airlines.