WRITTEN QUESTION E-0126/00

by Carmen Cerdeira Morterero (PSE) to the Commission

(27 January 2000)

Subject: Delays at Madrid Barajas airport

The Association of European Airlines (AEA) recently published figures on the operation of the main European airports in the third quarter of 1999. The results for Madrid airport are abysmal, the only airports to record worse figures being Barcelona and Milan Malpensa. According to the AEA figures, more than half of flights leaving Barajas were late (51,9 %), with take-off being delayed by an average of 43 minutes. The figures for arrivals were no better, with 47,7 % of flights arriving late and an average delay of 45 minutes.

The study also lists the causes of the delays, which clearly show that it is Barajas which is responsible for the problems, given that only 16 % of cases were linked to delays at other airports, while air-traffic control at Madrid Barajas and loading and handling operations on the ground were responsible in 31,5 % of cases. In short, the figures show that the situation at Barajas airport is poor and that it is the airport itself which is at the root of the problems.

In view of these figures, and given the Commission's wish to establish a single European air space, as stated by Commissioner de Palacio herself:

- what measures can the Commission adopt to improve the situation at European airports?

- Has the Commission adopted any initiative in this connection?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(20 March 2000)

The Commission agrees that the situation of air traffic delays and airspace congestion has reached limits which are no longer acceptable, and requires urgent and drastic action.

The Commission does not collect statistics for delays at airports. However the Association of European Airlines' punctuality report for the third quarter of 1999, does indicate the excessive delay being experienced at many European airports.

As regards delays attributed to Air Traffic Control, the Eurocontrol Organisation's Central Flow Management Unit, has indicated that there were problems during the month of December when the delay for all flights in Spain was higher than that of other States such as for example Netherlands, France and Switzerland. The reasons for these delays at the time were staff shortages and bad weather (mainly fog). The situation has subsequently improved considerably and the delays in Madrid in January have decreased by over a half on the December figures. Thus Barajas is no longer the most penalising area in Europe.

As regards the measures that the Commission could take to improve the situation at European airports, the Commission adopted on the 1st December a communication entitled the creation of the single European sky, which analyses the causes for that situation and recommends a number of actions to be undertaken both at Member State and Community level.

Furthermore, a high level group has been created, under the chairmanship of the Vice-President responsible for transport and energy to review the issues associated with delays in air traffic management. The HLG will complete its review in June 2000 and the Commission will report progress to the Council and the Parliament.