Ryanair Warns 100,000 Passengers Could Face Flight Disruptions Amid French Air Traffic Control Strike

O’Leary Slams “Needless” Cancellations

Ryanair has warned that up to 100,000 passengers will have their travel plans disrupted next week as French air traffic controllers prepare for strike action.

The airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said the walkout will force mass cancellations, particularly for flights that pass through French airspace.

Three-Day Walkout Announced

The SNCTA union, which represents French air traffic controllers, has announced strike action beginning on Tuesday 7 October and running until the morning of Friday 10 October.

The industrial dispute centres on demands over pay and working conditions.

Impact Beyond France

While flights to France will be directly affected, the disruption will also extend to overflights — planes that travel across French airspace on their way to other destinations.

This includes routes to and from Spain, Italy and Greece, which are heavily used by UK and Irish passengers.

Ryanair Faces Heavy Losses

O’Leary estimated that the strike will cost Ryanair around £20 million, though he insisted the airline could withstand the financial hit.

“The real victims are passengers whose flights are cancelled needlessly,” he said.

600 Flights a Day at Risk

On the first two days of strike action, Ryanair expects to be told to cancel about 600 flights per day.

Most of these cancellations will involve overflights, not domestic French services.

UK Routes Hit Hardest

O’Leary stressed that the UK will suffer most, as many flights from Britain to southern Europe rely on French airspace.

“On any given day, we operate about 900 flights across French skies. About two-thirds are cancelled whenever there’s an air traffic control strike,” he explained.

Call for EU Action

O’Leary called on the EU Commission to intervene and protect overflights during industrial disputes.

He argued that allowing strikes to affect international routes is “a fundamental breach of the single market”.

Eurocontrol Urged to Step In

The Ryanair boss suggested that Eurocontrol, the European air traffic management body, could take over responsibility for managing French airspace during strikes.

This, he said, would allow local flights to France to be cancelled while keeping international routes moving.

Acknowledging Right to Strike

Despite his criticism, O’Leary said he accepted the rights of French workers to strike.

But, he insisted, “They should not be cancelling flights from the UK to Spain or Italy to Ireland. That is needless disruption.”

Website for Passenger Complaints

Ryanair has launched a dedicated website — ATCruinedourholiday.com — urging passengers to file complaints with both EU officials and transport ministers.

“We bloody well demand that our overflights are protected,” O’Leary said.

“Government Doesn’t Care”

The airline chief accused the UK government of inaction.

“They don’t care about the travelling public and they won’t get off their arses to demand that overflights be protected,” he claimed.

Wider Airline Disruption

Other carriers, including EasyJet, British Airways, Vueling and Lufthansa, are also expected to be affected by the strike.

However, the full scale of cancellations is not yet known.

EasyJet Monitoring Situation

EasyJet said it was still waiting for detailed guidance from French authorities before confirming cancellations.

“We will update customers directly and continue to monitor the situation,” the airline told reporters.

Government Response

A spokesperson for the UK Department of Transport said airspace management was a sovereign matter.

“Each state decides how best to manage their airspace,” they said. “Airlines and airports have resilience plans to minimise disruption.”

Passenger Advice

Travellers scheduled to fly between 7 and 10 October are being urged to check their airline’s website or app regularly.

Flight status updates will be provided closer to the strike dates.

Rights for Passengers

If flights are cancelled or significantly delayed, passengers may be entitled to refunds, rebooking or compensation under EU air travel regulations.

Consumer watchdogs advise passengers to keep receipts for any extra costs they incur as a result of the strike.

Uncertainty Remains

The true scale of the disruption will only become clear once the strike begins, as airlines generally avoid mass cancellations until closer to the event.

For now, O’Leary has warned passengers to prepare for significant disruption across Europe’s skies.


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