Ryanair has warned its customers to expect delays and cancellations after being forced to cancel a number of flights as a result of strikes taking place in France.
This marks the third French ATC strike since the start of 2023, and the Irish airline is now calling on the European Commission to intervene.
Ryanair is insisting that EU authorities put a stop to the small number of French Air Traffic Controllers from "holding European travellers and tourists to ransom with this repeated and unnecessary strike action which takes place from 17:00, 6 Feb to 06:00 on 8 Feb."
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They say it is inexplicable that French ATC strikes disrupt flights flying over France "yet minimum service laws protect domestic French flights", the Irish airline said in a statement this morning.
Ryanair is proposing three simple measures:
- Require French ATC unions to engage in binding arbitration instead of strikes
- Protect French overflights (under minimum services laws)
- Allow Europe’s other ATCs to manage overflights over France while French ATC unions strike
Ryanair has sincerely apologised to its customers for the small number of unavoidable cancellations and any delays they may face as a result of this strike in France starting today, February 6.
These disruptions are expected to last until February 8 and passengers are being advised - if they are travelling to/from/over France during this period - to check the Ryanair website or app for flight status updates before travelling to the airport.
Speaking about the disruptions, Ryanair Director of Operations, Neal McMahon: "We have had to cancel a small number of our 2,500 daily flights due to yet another pointless French ATC strike, the third already this year.
"It is inexplicable that French Air Traffic Control can once again hold European passengers and visitors to ransom.
"Even passengers flying to/from France are impacted because they overfly French Airspace at a time when French laws protect French domestic flights.
"The European Commission must step in and to preserve the Free Movement of People by protecting overflights from these needless strikes.
"Protecting overflights, as done in Italy and Greece is the simplest and most effective solution to avoid unnecessary mass disruption and must be implemented to protect passengers."
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