Ryanair Loses Slots at Eindhoven Airport Over Late Arrivals

Ryanair has had two of its landing slots at Eindhoven Airport revoked due to a significant number of late arrivals. The Dutch slot regulator, Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL), made this rare decision for the upcoming summer season of 2026, citing that Ryanair flights were arriving an average of one hour late. The airline responded by appealing to the European Commission and local courts, asserting its position as the most punctual carrier in Europe and claiming the penalty is unjust.

The Dutch airport’s frustration stems from repeated late arrivals by Ryanair on Monday and Thursday evenings, specifically scheduled for around 20:00. The affected flights include those arriving from Sofia and Pisa. ACNL’s decision to revoke these slots is unusual and reflects the regulator’s determination to maintain operational punctuality, especially at busy airports like Eindhoven, which ranks as the Netherlands’ second-busiest after Amsterdam Schiphol.

ACNL reported over 30 late flights during a three-month period in summer 2025 and had previously warned Ryanair about its performance. The regulator even suggested that the airline’s tardiness could be “deliberate.” In response, a Ryanair spokesperson criticized the ruling as “unprecedented, irrational and disproportionate,” arguing that the penalties imposed for delays caused by air traffic control (ATC) are inconsistent with most European airports.

In August, Ryanair received a formal warning regarding its late arrivals before facing unspecified sanctions. Following the revocation of its slots, a local court upheld ACNL’s authority to manage slot allocations, prioritizing fairness over the airline’s complaints. Ryanair has since lodged an appeal with the European Commission, believing that the regulator’s decision will ultimately be overturned. The airline attributes many of its delays to issues within the broader European ATC network.

These slots have been held by Ryanair for years, and their loss will open up opportunities for competing airlines. Maintaining slot discipline at Eindhoven is critical, as repeated delays can disrupt the entire airport’s operations. The airport also enforces strict noise regulations and night curfews, which complicates the situation for late arrivals.

While the loss of these slots is significant, Ryanair’s position in the European market remains strong. The airline has been restructuring its network, recently cutting millions of seats due to increased fees and taxes. This includes the removal of 800,000 seats from its network in Germany this winter and 1.2 million seats to Spain next summer, along with a considerable resource reallocation away from France.

Ryanair has been a key player at Eindhoven Airport since the 1990s, often operating more than 50% of the flights and crucially contributing to the airport’s development as a low-cost travel hub. Despite losing the two slots, the airline will continue to serve over 30 destinations from Eindhoven, maintaining a significant presence alongside other major carriers like Transavia and Wizz Air, which collectively handle the majority of flights from the airport.