Dispute Sparks Controversy between Dan Air and Romatsa over Flight Priority at Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport
A heated dispute between Romanian low-cost carrier, Dan Air, and air traffic control firm, Romatsa, has taken center stage on social media. The disagreement revolves around a recent incident involving a Dan Air flight from Madrid Barajas Airport to Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport, which has led to conflicting claims regarding priority and passenger safety.
In the latest aviation controversy, Romanian low-cost carrier Dan Air and air traffic control firm Romatsa are at odds over a flight incident at Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport. On June 24, 2023, Dan Air’s flight DN288 en route from Madrid Barajas Airport faced a delay due to adverse weather conditions while another plane was allowed to take off, sparking discontent.
Dan Air took to its Facebook account to express dissatisfaction with the situation, claiming that Romatsa violated regulations by granting priority to another aircraft during inclement weather. According to the carrier, such a decision could potentially endanger the lives of their passengers aboard the Airbus A320.
The disagreement intensified further following an incident involving a bird on June 23, 2023. In response, Dan Air initially threatened to halt its operations at the newly opened Brașov-Ghimbav International Airport. However, the airline later decided to continue its operations from the airport.
On June 26, 2023, Romatsa issued a press statement defending its actions and clarifying the situation. The air traffic control firm explained that the HiSky flight, which was allowed to depart first, was subject to regularization by the Eurocontrol Network Manager (NM) due to capacity issues at another airport. This regulatory measure determined the take-off time from Brașov airport. Romatsa emphasized that passenger safety was never compromised during these decisions.
Moreover, Romatsa pointed out that if Dan Air’s flight DN288 had been in a critical situation, it could have declared an emergency, receiving priority in landing. However, the flight did not fall into any of the categories that required such special consideration at that time.
Responding to Romatsa’s statement on June 27, 2023, Dan Air contested the claim that their aircraft waited for only 15 minutes in dangerous weather conditions. The airline also disagreed with Romatsa’s interpretation of the criteria for granting special permission to land in safety-critical circumstances.
Despite the ongoing dispute, Romatsa concluded its statement by highlighting its track record of providing safe services for approximately 3000 aircraft daily, without any incidents or delays attributable to their operations.