Ryanair has warned that next week’s French air traffic control (ATC) strikes could force the airline to cancel up to 600 flights per day, affecting as many as 100,000 passengers.
The country’s biggest ATC union, SNCTA, has announced industrial action from 7–10 October, which is expected to disrupt routes across western Europe, particularly those flying over France from the UK to Spain, Italy and Greece.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, urged the EU to protect overflights from cancellations. “They have the right to strike, but if flights are to be cancelled, they should be flights arriving to and from France. They should not be overflights,” he said. O’Leary also called on European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to intervene, suggesting Eurocontrol could manage overflights during strikes.
Airlines typically do not receive confirmation of cancellations until strike action begins, but Ryanair expects significant disruption. Other carriers, including EasyJet and British Airways, have not yet detailed their plans.
French strikes have already caused disruption this year. On 18 September, 190 Ryanair flights carrying 35,000 passengers were delayed, while about 30 flights were cancelled on Thursday due to action by smaller unions.
Alongside strikes, European aviation has faced post-Covid staff shortages, technical issues, and reduced flight path options due to the closure of Ukrainian and Russian airspace, adding further pressure to air traffic networks.
