French Air Traffic Controllers’ Strike Disrupts Flights, Ryanair Cancels Over 170

The strike, called by two French unions in protest over working conditions, has led to significant flight cancellations across France. According to BBC, a quarter of flights in Paris and half of the flights in Nice have been canceled.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot condemned the strike, calling the unions’ demands and the timing of the strike during a peak holiday period “unacceptable.”

Ryanair, one of the airlines most affected, stated that the strike not only impacted flights within France but also those passing through French airspace, including flights to and from the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Greece.

Ryanair Calls for EU Intervention:
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary accused the air traffic controllers of “holding European families to ransom” and called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to ensure minimum service levels and protect flights passing through French airspace.

France’s civil aviation authority, DGAC, has also requested airlines to reduce the number of flights at several airports across the country.

Expected Disruptions:
The strike is expected to cause significant disruptions, particularly on Friday, with flight numbers at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais airports projected to drop by 40%.

Union’s Justification:
The UNSA-ICNA union, which called for the strike, cited issues such as staff shortages and administrative problems as reasons for the industrial action. Negotiations between the union and management have so far failed to resolve the dispute.

Ryanair’s Previous Cancellations:
Ryanair also reported that recent conflicts in the Middle East had impacted its operations, leading to the cancellation of over 800 flights last month. Despite these cancellations, the airline managed to operate more than 109,000 flights in June, with less than 1% affected by the disruptions.