Ryanair says it may be forced to cancel up to 600 flights a day during a French air traffic control (ATC) strike next week, potentially disrupting travel for as many as 100,000 passengers.
The walkout, called by France’s main ATC union SNCTA, is scheduled for 7–10 October and will reduce capacity across western European airspace. Flights from the UK to France and southern Europe are expected to be hit hardest as many routes overfly French territory.
Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, urged the European Commission to step in and protect overflights, arguing that cancellations should apply only to flights directly arriving in or departing from France.
“They have the right to strike, but if flights are to be cancelled they should be flights arriving to and from France. They should not be overflights,” O’Leary said, adding that Eurocontrol could manage rerouted traffic during stoppages.
Ryanair has been the most outspoken airline on the issue, though other carriers, including easyJet and British Airways, are also expected to face significant disruption.
The warning comes after more than 190 Ryanair flights carrying 35,000 passengers were heavily delayed during a French strike last month. About 30 services were cancelled on Thursday amid separate industrial action by smaller unions.
The strikes add to broader challenges for European aviation, with post-Covid staffing shortages, technical glitches, and the loss of Russian and Ukrainian airspace continuing to strain air traffic systems.
