Latest news with #FrenchATC
Reuters
03-07-2025
- Reuters
More than 1,500 flights cancelled on July 3-4 due to French air traffic controllers' strike
PARIS, July 3 (Reuters) - More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled on July 3-4, affecting nearly 300,000 passengers, due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, European industry lobby Airlines for Europe said in a statement. "Airlines for Europe (A4E) strongly condemns the French air traffic control (ATC) strike taking place today and tomorrow," it said. "Tens of thousands of travellers in France and across Europe have seen their summer getaway grounded as French air-traffic controllers walk out during the Grand Départ; one of the busiest periods for summer travel," it added.
Al Arabiya
03-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
More than 1,500 flights cancelled on July 3-4 due to French air traffic controller strike
More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled on July 3-4, affecting nearly 300,000 passengers, due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, European industry lobby Airlines for Europe said in a statement. 'Airlines for Europe (A4E) strongly condemns the French air traffic control (ATC) strike taking place today and tomorrow,' it said. 'Tens of thousands of travelers in France and across Europe have seen their summer getaway grounded as French air-traffic controllers walk out during the Grand Départ; one of the busiest periods for summer travel,' it added.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- The Sun
Hundreds of flights cancelled across Europe this week – with up to 36,000 Brits affected
FLIGHT cancellations across Europe are set to affect thousands of Brits heading abroad this week. Airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Air France have been forced to cancel flights today and tomorrow due to French ATC strikes over working conditions and pay. 3 This means that as many as 200 flights to and from the UK will be impacted each day on July 3 and July 4, according to AirAdvisor. This works out to as many as 36,000 Brits. Ryanair has cancelled 170 flights in total, which is expected to disrupt over 30,000 passengers. The airline has also claimed that the strikes in France will disrupt passengers flying over French airspace too, en route to other destinations such as Greece and Spain. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said: "Once again European families are held to ransom by French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike. "It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike. "It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays." In comparison, easyJet has been forced to cancel 22 UK touching flights today and 38, so far, for tomorrow. Across Europe the airline has made 124 cancellations in total for today and 150 so far, for tomorrow. An easyJet spokesperson said: "As required by the French authorities (DGAC) easyJet proactively cancelled some flights in advance and customers were contacted directly with options to transfer to another flight for free or a refund. "While this is outside of our control, we will do all we can to minimise the impact of the strike action. Flight cancelled or delayed? Top tips for handling travel disruptions "On behalf of our passengers we are extremely unhappy with the strike action, particularly given the current performance of French ATC which has been the leading cause of airspace delays in Europe this summer. "Long term solutions must be found for our customers and crew who suffer repeated disruption." The strike, which is being led by UNSA-INCA and SNCTA unions, will involve 60-70 per cent of ATCs. Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor explained that the strikes will also cause the airspace to narrow, and as a result the backlog will spread quickly to hubs like Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester. He said: "What many travellers underestimate is how vulnerable short-haul schedules are to even minor disruptions. 3 "Unlike long-haul routes, where airlines often have contingency buffers, short-haul flights operate on tight rotations." For example, one delay in Lyon or Marseille could lead to a ripple effect that cancels a Stansted departure six hours later. He continued: "My top advice is to travel with full situational awareness. "If your itinerary connects through France or overflies its airspace, even to destinations like Italy or Spain, check with your airline daily, not just the night before. "Take screenshots of every notification, keep every receipt, and escalate immediately if your flight is cancelled. "Under EU261, you're owed assistance even if you're not owed financial compensation, but you have to know how to ask." New EU rules also mean Brits will now get less compensation if their flight is delayed. Plus, Ryanair has warned of record flight delays this summer. 3
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Ryanair accuses French strikers of holding holidaymakers ‘to ransom'
Ryanair has cancelled 170 flights because of strikes by French air traffic control (ATC) staff, disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands of people. Michael O'Leary, chief executive of the Irish budget airline, accused the strikers of holding European families 'to ransom' on Tuesday as the company announced that the flights would not take place. The cancellations are estimated to affect around 30,000 passengers. As well as flights to and from France, flights that pass through French airspace to locations such as Greece and Spain will be affected, Ryanair said. The strikes coincide with the start of the European summer holidays, one of the busiest periods for travel every year. Mr O'Leary said: 'Once again European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike. It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike. 'It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.' 'P----d off' ATC workers in France have gone on strike for higher pay and more staff. The decision to launch the industrial action was taken after talks with the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) fell apart. On Wednesday, DGAC asked carriers to reduce flights at Paris airports by 40pc as a result of the turmoil. Further cuts have been called for at other locations such as Nice, Bastia, Calvi, Lyon, Marseille and Montpellier. Mr O'Leary called on Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, to reform European ATC services by making sure they are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures and protecting overflights during strikes. He said: 'These two splendid reforms would eliminate 90pc of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike.' In an update to investors, Mr O'Leary described the strikers as 'recreational' as he railed against their activities. The businessman has criticised striking French workers many times in the past. In 2023 he urged customers to sign a petition calling on the European Commission to keep the skies open as France battled a similar wave of industrial action. Speaking at the time, he said: 'People are really f-----g p----d off with flights getting cancelled left, right and centre because the French are on strike.' The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has warned travellers that they may face disruption and delays this week and to seek advice if they plan to travel across France this week.
