French air traffic controllers have initiated a sudden strike, escalating disruptions across European aviation during the peak summer travel season. This action caused flight cancellations and delays, affecting not only flights to and from France but also overflights passing through French airspace with up to 100,000 passengers affected.
Ryanair issued a renewed call for reforms in Europe’s air traffic control (ATC) to address disruptions caused by French ATC strikes.
Ryanair say the strikes affected the travel plans of 30,000 Ryanair passengers, most of whom were not flying to or from France. It says 20pc of all EU flights pass over France, yet minimal services during strikes do not protect overflights.
The strike, led by unions UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, stemmed from demands for better working conditions, citing chronic understaffing, outdated equipment, and opposition to proposed reforms, including stricter oversight following a 2022 near-collision incident in Bordeaux.
Ryanair estimating €30m in losses from earlier July actions. The ripple effect disrupted travel across Europe, notably in Spain, England, and Italy, causing cascading delays and congestion.
Eurocontrol reported approximately 3,713 flights delayed daily and 1,422 cancellations per day during similar strike actions earlier in July, impacting over 1m passengers, with 200,000 unable to travel as planned. Ryanair alone canceled over 400 flights, affecting 70,000 passengers, while EasyJet grounded 274 flights, and Air France adjusted schedules but maintained long-haul operations. Airports like Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Beauvais, and Nice saw up to 40-50pc flight reductions, with southern airports like Marseille, Lyon, and Montpellier also heavily impacted. Overflights faced rerouting, adding millions of extra kilometers flown and increasing fuel costs.
France’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) responded by mandating significant flight reductions to manage the reduced controller workforce. On July 16, similar to earlier directives, DGAC ordered airlines to cut up to 40% of flights at Paris airports and 50% at Nice, with 30-50% reductions at other regional hubs.
The DGAC warned of “significant delays” nationwide, urging passengers to check flight statuses and postpone travel where possible. Despite these measures, the agency faced criticism for failing to modernize equipment and address staffing shortages, with unions claiming DGAC’s management practices were inadequate.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called the strike timing “unacceptable,” especially as it coincided with the start of school holidays, and pledged to fast-track new digital workstations.
Ryanair shared, “90pc of these cancellations would have been avoided if overflights over France were protected during French ATC strikes. Ursula von der Leyen has a duty to protect the single market for air travel. Previous French ATC strikes on 3 and 4 July resulted in 1,500 flight cancellations, impacting over 270,000 individuals and families. It is unacceptable that less than two weeks later, a further 30,000 passengers’ travel plans have been disrupted.”
