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Parliamentary question - E-005380/2018Parliamentary question
E-005380/2018
European Parliament

Follow up to Written Question E-004365-18 — Vueling ‘exceptional circumstances’ for delays and the poor structural aircraft maintenance decisions taken by Vueling and Iberia

22.10.2018

Answer in writing

Question for written answer E-005380-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (ALDE)

I thank Ms Bulc for her reply[1], and for requesting ‘specific information on cases where the airline invokes extraordinary circumstances to the Spanish enforcement body’[2], [3].

I would like to inform the Commission that we have been contacted by Vueling staff and experienced pilots. They have provided a version different to the airline’s answer: that delays are due to mainly to air traffic control strikes[4], [5].

The pilots have explained that Vueling’s constant delays are due to poor management of aircraft operations and maintenance by Vueling and the result of decisions taken by Iberia[6]. Iberia has decided to send young mechanics straight out of school to Vueling in Barcelona. Senior mechanics are kept in Madrid for Iberia.

Aircraft maintenance is done at night. For Vueling, there are two types of engine on the airbus 319 and 320, which are different and have different maintenance requirements. Young, inexperienced mechanics take more time to complete their tasks, which is why some aircraft are not ready in the morning. Pilots naturally put safety first, only accepting safely checked planes for the first flights in the morning, and this creates delays for passengers.

1. Can the Commission confirm that such poor maintenance decisions by management cannot be considered as ‘exceptional circumstances’ when justifying delays, but are instead structural causes[7]?

Iberia and Vueling have lost mechanics who have moved to a Norwegian airline and Ryanair, can the Commission ask to check the numbers involved?

Last updated: 7 November 2018
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