The proportion of delayed passengers has risen sharply across Europe compared to 2019. While in the summer months before the pandemic an average of 27,3 percent of passengers had to deal with delays and flight cancellations, the proportion in 2022 was 37,1 percent. In absolute numbers, that's 89 million delayed passengers in 2019 and 99 million last year. This is the result of an investigation by AirHelp.
Almost half of all travelers (47,4 percent) in Serbia had to deal with flight delays or cancellations last summer, which corresponds to 412.000 affected passengers. Greece also has a very high delay rate in the summer of 2022 at 44,5 percent. Here 5,3 million passengers left the departure point late. Both countries also led the ranking in 2019: Four years ago, 39 percent (320.000 passengers) in Serbia and 37 percent (4,1 million passengers) in Greece were affected by flight problems.
Third place was taken by Bulgaria in 2022 with a delay rate of 44,2 percent (585.600 passengers) and Portugal in 2019 with 36,3 percent (3,2 million passengers). Last year, Germany came fifth with a rate of 43,5 percent (11,2 million passengers), just behind the Netherlands (43,7 percent, 3,9 million passengers). Four years ago, Germany was still in 14th place among the least punctual countries: In 2019, 28,6 percent (10,4 million passengers) departed from German airports with a delay.
Finland, Lithuania and Norway the most punctual
Finland, Lithuania and Norway had the fewest delayed air travelers in the summer of 2022. In Finland, around 20 percent of all air travelers (455.600 passengers) were affected by flight cancellations and delays. Lithuania follows a little behind in second place with 20,7 percent (137.600 passengers). Norway closes the podium with 22,5 percent (1,7 million passengers).
In 2019, Lithuania and Norway already shone with low delay rates and secured second and third place among the most punctual countries: In Lithuania, 15,7 percent (113.000 passengers) left the airport with delays, in Norway 17,8 percent (1,5 million passengers). passengers). While Finland, the 2022 winner, only finished sixth, Azerbaijan climbed to the top: between July and September 2019, only 14,9 percent (107.700 passengers) in Azerbaijan faced flight problems.
In Germany, there were numerous delays and cancellations in the summer of 2022, especially in Frankfurt. At Fraport, 51 percent (3,9 million passengers) and at Frankfurt-Hahn Airport (HHN) 50,7 percent (96.700 passengers) departed late – more than half of all passengers at the two locations. Before the pandemic, the delay rates looked even better: Fraport also took first place in 2019, but with a rate of 33,2 percent (3,5 million passengers). Memmingen Airport took second place with 29,4 percent and 49.000 delayed passengers. At that time, the HHN was still in eleventh place in the ranking with a rate of 24 percent. Third place among the least punctual airports in Germany was Cologne Airport in 3 with 2022 percent (48 passengers), in 691.900 Dortmund Airport with 2019 percent (29 passengers).
Travelers left Stuttgart most punctually in the summer of 2022 – every fourth passenger (24,8 percent, 292.200 passengers) had to contend with flight problems. In Dresden and Bremen it was already one in three (30,7 percent, 38.500 passengers and 31,6 percent, 68.300 passengers). In 2019, vacationers starting in Münster (16,4 percent, 25.800 passengers), Dresden (16,6 percent, 38.300 passengers) and at Weeze Airport (17,3 percent, 25.900 passengers) were able to enjoy reasonably punctual departure times.
Flights in Europe significantly less punctual after the pandemic than in 2019
Julián Navas, air passenger rights expert at AirHelp, puts it this way: “Now almost as many holidaymakers and business travelers are traveling by plane as before the pandemic: while around 2019 million passengers flew in July, August and September 325, there were already 267 last summer Millions. This is a positive sign for the aviation and tourism industry. What is alarming, however, is the delay rate, which has risen sharply from 27,3 to 37,1 percent, although airports and airlines still have to process fewer people than three years ago. In view of the ongoing shortage of skilled workers, the strikes and, of course, unforeseeable extreme weather conditions, we expect that the number of passengers affected by flight delays and cancellations will continue to rise this summer.
Last summer alone, around 6,5 million passengers in Europe were entitled to compensation - this means that the airlines themselves are to blame for the flight problems. In 2019 it was only 5 million people. We encourage all affected holidaymakers to consider their claims for compensation."
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