In France, 2022 is the worst year in terms of flight delays over the last ten years. The Autorité de la qualité de service dans les transports (AQST) noted this in a report published today. In a context of recovery of activity after the pandemic, planes departing and arriving from France have never been so short on time in a decade. "Regardless of the type of flight (domestic, medium-haul and long-haul), 2022 represents the highest delay rate in the last ten years (2013-2022 period)," she said. In detail, 19.6% of domestic flights experienced delays last year, a rate that rises to 28.1% for medium-haul flights and 28.4% for long-haul flights.
This is due to a "lack of staff which has primarily affected airlines" and "the difficulties encountered by airports in anticipating the resumption of traffic". As a result, "for domestic and medium-haul flights, the average delay is up compared to 2019, standing at around 46 minutes. On the other hand, for long-haul flights, the average delay is down to around 51 minutes."
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Better in 2023?
But air performance seems to be improving in 2023. On its website, the FNAM (Fédération Nationale des Métiers de l'Aviation) points out that last summer was marked by "good operational performance (border and security crossing and baggage handling) at airports, despite activity approaching 95% of 2019 levels for the Roissy Charles de Gaulle hub". And acknowledges that "punctuality problems" persist, especially due to a "still insufficient performance of air traffic control".
The FNAM ensures that 4 Flight, a device that must modernize the air traffic control system, will improve the results of flights transiting through France. He added: "Airlines fully support efforts to increase the predictability of the impacts of industrial action in air traffic control centres.
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