We're sorry your plane is delayed ... by 57 years

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jul 9, 2000 | by MIKE EDWARDS

A HUGE increase in air traffic delays will mean even more misery for European travellers.

Hold-ups across the Continent are set to top 30 million minutes this year ... that's the equivalent of 57 YEARS.

The International Air Transport Association has described the delays as "totally unacceptable".

And it has accused EU transport ministers of raising false hopes for a trouble-free summer.

Earlier this year the EU ministers said delays would fall to 20 million minutes - the same as in 1977.

But they have now been forced to revise their estimate to 27 million ... and the International Air Transport Association claims the final figure will top 30 million.

A spokesman said: "The only question is how much more?"

The association is now pressing for a "single European sky".

"It would make sense to have one central control authority for Europe's airways," the spokesman added.

And British Airways, already badly hit by recent British air traffic computer failures and a strike by French controllers, is leading a campaign urging the ministers to take joint action to tackle the problem.

A BA spokesman said: "Air traffic control problems are not our fault - but affect us terribly."