Airspace Restrictions: What It Means for Airlines and Passengers

Written By Joanna Teljeur

6 minutes read
Last Updated: September 02, 2024

More and more passengers have taken to the skies as travel continues to rebound after the pandemic. This is generally a positive development, but the one downside is that the increasing number of flights is further straining Europe’s already limited airspace. 

The Eurocontrol Performance Review Report was released in June of this year and showed that delays caused by air-space restrictions were worse in 2023 than they had been in over 20 years with more than 25% of flights in Europe being delayed by over 15 minutes. But what is causing this and how will this issue affect European airspace in the years ahead?

Disrupted flight? You might have a right to compensation - up to €600.Check Your Flight

Airspace Restrictions Explained

In Europe airspace, is separated into various air traffic control (ATC) systems each of which can impose either permanent or temporary limitations of different kinds.

Different Kinds of Airspace Restrictions

1. Military Restrictions: These kinds of restrictions can affect huge areas of European skies where military operations need to take place without civilian traffic getting in the way.
2. Short-term Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) are caused by events like airshows, flights of important government leaders, and emergencies. They can lead to rerouted flights which have the potential to cause delays as well as more fuel consumption.
3. Weather restrictions are the biggest source of flight disruptions. Severe weather like dangerous storms cause flights to be rerouted or diverted for safety reasons.
4. Geopolitical restrictions of airspace stem from conflicts causing large areas of sky to be completely clsted to commercial and civilian air traffic. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has closed airspace over these countries which leads to longer flights and more congestion over other parts of the continent.
5. Special Use Airspace (SUA) are areas reserved for things like military drills, tests, and space launches. These kinds of events can limit and restrict civilian flights for certain periods of time and can lead to rerouting.

Why Airspace Restrictions Matter

Airspace restrictions matter because they lead to flight delays, more fuel consumption, more carbon emissions, higher ticket prices, and more airline compensation payouts.

Unlike other areas including Canada and the United States, European airspace is fragmented with each area controlled by their own air navigation service provider (ANSP). So, rather than having one unified airspace to fly in, airlines have to deal with various ANSPs when they fly across Europe. 

Fragmentation like this creates even more challenges in regions with especially high traffic like France and Germany, leading to even more congestion and capacity-related delays as well as overall inefficiencies. Each flight has to navigate the procedures, regulations and capacity limitations of each region. 

Traffic Volumes Continue to Rise

This year (2024), air traffic numbers in Europe have climbed to 98% of what they were before the pandemic, and some regions have already surpassed 2019 levels. Part of the surge in passenger volumes can be attributed to the rise of ultra low cost airlines like Wizz who, in August 2023 added 40% more flights compared to August 2019 causing even more strain. 

The Single European Sky (SES) Initiative

The Single European Sky (SES) initiative was organized in 2004 to remedy these kinds of airspace challenges to help improve air traffic management “from the safety, capacity, cost-efficiency, and environmental perspectives”.  

The initiative aims to reduce the number of flight delays caused by short-term congestion, but to date, the skies over Europe are still fragmented with congestion getting worse all the time. But how does air traffic control factor in? Let’s take a closer look.

Air Traffic Control Management (ATFM)

To better manage the flow of aircraft, especially in highly congested areas, air traffic controllers will work with pilots and airlines to reroute, initiate holding patterns, or other adjustments to keep airline passengers and crew safe. 

During 2023, ATFM delays in Europe alone amounted to 18.1 million minutes (or roughly 301,000 hours) which had a profound impact on travellers and airlines alike and contributed to the lower punctuality scores in the region. 

How ATCM Delays Impact Airlines, Passengers, and the Environment

Rerouting and holding patterns imposed by air traffic control place an enormous burden on airlines. Last year alone, these kinds of delays cost European airlines roughly €1.5 billion in crew time, airport fees, and fuel, not to mention delay compensation owed to affected passengers and operational disruptions. Because air traffic is expected to increase, these numbers are expected to rise to €2 billion by the end of 2024.

Speaking of compensation, airlines must comply with air passenger rights regulations EU261, and pay passengers for delays based on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay. While this relieves travellers of some of the burden caused by flight disruptions, it cuts into the airlines’ profits so in the end, passengers might see high ticket prices as a result.

As for the environment, well rerouting leads to higher CO2 emissions. Each extra minute of flight time leads to hundreds of extra kilograms of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. 

The Most Affected Countries & Airlines

Here you can see how these countries were affected by ATFM delays in 2023.

Most Affected Countries

Most Affected Airlines

Because of their size and use of high-traffic flight routes, the following airlines have a higher chance of being affected by delays caused by airspace restriction and congestion. It’s important to note that the effects of these factors can vary depending on the specific day of travel, route, and traffic volume.

Ryanair

As one of Europe's largest low cost airlines, Ryanair operates a high number of flights in some of the most congested areas including airspace in France and Spain where military zones and high-traffic areas can cause delays. On top of that, the airline has a strategy of utilizing tight turnarounds which leaves very little room for sudden rerouting or other disruptions.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has hubs in some of the busiest and most airspace-restricted areas in Europe, and they see quite a few delays as a result. Plus, their long-haul flights have a tendency to intersect with restricted airspace which can lead to rerouting and other delays.

easyJet

Another popular low cost carrier, easyJet operates in the UK and across Europe and has been significantly affected by airspace congestion particularly over London and other big cities. As in Europe, the UK’s airspace also suffers from frequent congestion. Plus easyJet utilizes shorter, high-frequency routes both of which make airspace restriction and traffic volume delays more likely.

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.Check Your Flight

What to Expect in 2025

In the coming year, European air travel is expected to reach and even exceed pre-pandemic levels. While this is a huge benefit for business, it also means an added burden to an already strained airspace. During peak travel seasons in places like Paris, London, and Frankfurt, the strain will be felt even more accutely.

Fortunately, technological advancements by the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project, in particular, should offer some improvements to help air traffic management become more efficient. Also, the development of AI-based traffic management and other tools might help ATC handle traffic flow more efficiently and reduce the amount of time planes spend in holding patterns or flying around high volume areas.

So, as an air passenger, you can expect more frequent and longer delays when you travel in Europe next summer or over the holidays. If you can, avoid these busy travel seasons or consider other options like rail, bus and coach services, rental cars, or even car sharing. Depending on where you’re going, these options might get you to your destination faster and for less money than flying. 

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