Ryanair call on EU to address strikes in France affecting flights over their airspace

Ryanair, the largest airline in Europe, has denounced the flight problems caused by French Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes saying they have impacted all international flights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK, and Ireland to be cancelled, and delays to flights to other countries that pass through French airspace.  

Ryanair claim that 25% of 9,000 scheduled flights over the last weekend (2,250) were delayed due to strikes, while another 230 flights were cancelled, affecting nearly 41,000 passengers, including a large proportion from the UK.

“Ursula Von Der Leyen and the EU Commission repeatedly claim that the Single Market is a priority for Europe. In negotiations around Brexit, the Single Market was the EU Commissions’ priority. However, every time French ATC goes on strike, the Single Market for air travel over Europe is disrupted, yet the EU Commission sits on its hands taking no action,” said Ryanair’s spokesperson about the situation.

The airline also called on the EU Commission to take legal action against the French government as well as its unions, to protect EU ‘overflights’, and pointed out that EU passengers are entitled to rely on the  Single Market for air travel, and frequent flight cancellations should be avoided.

In addition to the airline, Eurocontrol, the EU Organisation for Air Navigation Safety, recommended last year that the Commission take action and address the ATC strikes. Three main recommendations included imposing ATC minimum service requirements with a specific reduction of domestic flights, allowing all overflights with no ATC delays, and posting a strike notice in advance to allow airlines to reschedule or warn passengers.

Ryanair’s spokesperson also criticised Europe’s Single European Sky (SESAR) project, saying it has been a 20-year failure, and called on the EU President to act on defending the Single Market for air travel in the zone.