Experienced some appalling spanish atc recently. controller ranting on the radio about how hard he works and it's not his fault. However 8 aircraft waiting over 1.5 hrs for slots that originated at the airport and they all had the same slot - I do mean exactly the same ! The farce of all 8 trying to push for the same slot and get airborne was unbelievable. Calls to company confirmed slot was originating at the airport but controller insisted it was the fault of the French, or anybody he could think of. Holding airlines to ransome has got to stop
