The budget airline Ryanair has announced that over 30,000 passengers will be affected by cancelled flights stemming from a two-day strike by French air traffic controllers. The strike, organized by two French unions, aims to address grievances concerning working conditions, leading to a quarter of flights being grounded at major Paris airports and as much as half of flights at Nice airport.
Ryanair directly reported the cancellation of more than 170 flights. The strike not only hampers travel routes to and from France but also disrupts flights navigating through French airspace to various destinations including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Greece. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, expressed outrage, criticizing the strike and calling for action from the European Commission to protect air travel during such industrial actions.
In response to the situation, France's civil aviation authority, DGAC, has requested airlines to reduce their flight schedules, anticipating further disruptions with a forecasted 40% decrease in flights from Paris airports on Friday. Tensions were exacerbated as negotiations between unions and the DGAC failed to resolve concerns regarding staffing shortages and a proposed clock-in system for air traffic controllers.
The strike has drawn ire from Airlines for Europe (A4E), describing the industrial action as "intolerable," and affecting travel during peak holiday times. EasyJet, another low-cost carrier caught in the disruptions, conveyed its disappointment and joined the call for a swift resolution. Despite these challenges, Ryanair noted that it still managed to operate over 109,000 flights in June, indicating a minimal impact on its overall flight schedule.
As the travel chaos continues, passengers are left dealing with the fallout from this sudden and significant strike action.
Ryanair directly reported the cancellation of more than 170 flights. The strike not only hampers travel routes to and from France but also disrupts flights navigating through French airspace to various destinations including the UK, Ireland, Spain, and Greece. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, expressed outrage, criticizing the strike and calling for action from the European Commission to protect air travel during such industrial actions.
In response to the situation, France's civil aviation authority, DGAC, has requested airlines to reduce their flight schedules, anticipating further disruptions with a forecasted 40% decrease in flights from Paris airports on Friday. Tensions were exacerbated as negotiations between unions and the DGAC failed to resolve concerns regarding staffing shortages and a proposed clock-in system for air traffic controllers.
The strike has drawn ire from Airlines for Europe (A4E), describing the industrial action as "intolerable," and affecting travel during peak holiday times. EasyJet, another low-cost carrier caught in the disruptions, conveyed its disappointment and joined the call for a swift resolution. Despite these challenges, Ryanair noted that it still managed to operate over 109,000 flights in June, indicating a minimal impact on its overall flight schedule.
As the travel chaos continues, passengers are left dealing with the fallout from this sudden and significant strike action.
