Ryanair Urges EU Action Amid French ATC Strikes Disrupting 100 Flights

Ryanair, Europe's leading airline, has called on the EU Commission to take immediate action to safeguard passenger rights amidst a French air traffic control (ATC) strike scheduled for June 6th. The strike has led to the cancellation of nearly 100 flights to and from Paris Beauvais Airport, causing significant disruption.

In 2023 alone, there have been 84 days of French ATC strikes, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations across Europe. Ryanair criticizes France for using Minimum Service Laws to protect its domestic flights while overflights from other EU countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, and the UK face cancellations. The airline argues that all EU states should protect overflights during ATC strikes, as seen in Spain, Italy, and Greece.

Ryanair has repeatedly urged EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take decisive measures to protect overflights during ATC strikes, a plea that has gone unanswered for five years. The airline stresses that the frequent strikes infringe on EU citizens' freedom of movement and calls on passengers to support its 'Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open' petition, which has amassed over 2.1 million signatures.

The petition demands several key measures: legal protection for overflights during strikes, allowing other European ATCs to manage flights over France during French ATC strikes, and mandating binding arbitration before ATC unions can strike. Affected passengers have been informed and offered alternatives such as rescheduling their flights or receiving full refunds.

A Ryanair spokesperson expressed frustration, stating, "It is inexplicable that Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission have failed to take action to protect EU passengers' freedom of movement during these repeated French ATC strikes. As a result, we have been forced to cancel almost 100 flights to/from Paris Beauvais Airport tomorrow, unfairly disrupting thousands of EU passengers' travel plans at short notice."

The ongoing ATC strikes highlight a significant issue within the EU, and Ryanair's call for action underscores the need for a unified response to ensure passenger rights and maintain consistent air travel across Europe. The airline continues to press the EU Commission to address the problem, emphasizing that passengers should not bear the brunt of national labor disputes.