‘Intolerable’: Airlines slam passenger disruption caused by French air traffic controller strikes
A strike by French air site visitors controllers (ATC) entered its second day on Friday with flight delays and cancellations persevering with for hundreds of passengers.
Airways have slammed the commercial motion, which comes throughout one of many busiest months of the 12 months for air journey.
Funds airline Ryanair has known as on EU Fee President Ursula von der Leyen to take pressing motion.
Tens of hundreds of passengers affected by French airport strikes
In response to the walkout, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) has requested for a discount in airport capability throughout the nation.
Airways for Europe (A4E) stated on Thursday {that a} complete of 1500 flights have been cancelled on 3 and 4 July, affecting over 300,000 passengers.
Late on Thursday, Ryanair stated it has been pressured to cancel 400 flights on Thursday and Friday as a result of strike, together with some flights over France to the UK, Spain, Greece and Eire. It might disrupt journey for greater than 70,000 passengers.
Easyjet has additionally stated it has needed to cancel 274 flights throughout the walkout.
Ryanair says European households are ‘held to ransom’ by strikes
The economic motion comes on the eve of the college summer season holidays in France, when air site visitors peaks. These dates are among the busiest of the 12 months, based on DGAC, as many head off on their summer season break.
Ryanair has lambasted the transfer. “As soon as once more, European households are held to ransom by French air site visitors controllers occurring strike,” CEO Michael O’Leary stated in a press release.
He highlighted that the strike can be affecting all flights passing over French airspace, which means passengers who will not be touchdown or leaving from France are additionally experiencing disruption.
“It’s not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en path to their vacation spot are being cancelled/delayed on account of one more French ATC strike,” O’Leary stated. “It is mindless and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and households occurring holidays.”
The airline has known as on Ursula von der Leyen to take pressing motion to reform the EU’s ATC companies by making certain that they’re totally staffed for the primary wave of each day departures and defending overflights throughout nationwide ATC strikes.
“These two splendid reforms would remove 90 per cent of all ATC delays and cancellations, and shield EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable disruptions attributable to one more French ATC strike.”
Airline affiliation calls strikes ‘insupportable’
Airways for Europe (A4E) has additionally hit again over the disruption attributable to the French ATC strike.
“Tens of hundreds of travellers in France and throughout Europe have seen their summer season getaway grounded as French air site visitors controllers stroll out,” the group stated in a press release.
“Already in 2025, French ATC has confirmed to be one of many weakest hyperlinks in Europe’s ATC system, posting a few of Europe’s worst delay information.”
ATC capacity-related delays in June 2025 reportedly jumped 115 per cent in comparison with June 2024.
“European Transport Commissioner Tzitzikostas has repeatedly pressed member states to repair poor-performing ATC and it’s excessive time they stopped the reasons and took motion,” the A4E assertion continues.
The group is asking for varied measures to forestall future disruption to passengers in France and throughout Europe:
- Obligatory arbitration earlier than ATC unions can threaten strike motion
- A 21-day advance notification of strike motion.
- Provision of a 72-hour advance particular person notification of participation in industrial motion
- Safety of overflights, whereas making certain this isn’t on the expense of exits and arrivals within the nation the place the strike originates
- A proper of redress with Air Navigation Service Suppliers (ANSPs) for the influence of disruption
“This strike is insupportable. French ATC already delivers a few of Europe’s worst delay figures and now the actions of a minority of French ATC employees will needlessly disrupt the vacation plans of hundreds of individuals in France and throughout Europe,” stated Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E.
“There’s intense dialogue about passenger rights within the EU proper now, but policymakers have finished little to repair ATC to assist them attain probably the most primary proper: reaching your vacation spot on time.”
