Hundreds of Scots Affected by French Air Traffic Control Strikes, Ryanair and EasyJet Cancel Flights

Strategic Insights -

Hundreds of Scots have had their travel plans disrupted after Ryanair and EasyJet were forced to cancel flights due to French air traffic control strikes. The strikes, which began on a Tuesday, have resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights to and from France, as well as overflights to destinations such as Greece, Spain, and Ireland. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has renewed calls for EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to take "urgent action" to reform European Union air traffic control (ATC) services, citing the disruption as "abundantly unfair" on EU passengers and families going on holidays.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ryanair has cancelled more than 170 flights due to French air traffic control strikes, affecting flights to and from France and overflights to destinations such as Greece, Spain, and Ireland.
  • EasyJet has cancelled 274 flights during the planned action.
  • Ryanair has campaigned for an overhaul of ATC services across Europe, citing the need for ATC services to be fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures and to protect overflights during national ATC strikes.
  • Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has called on EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to take "urgent action" to reform European Union air traffic control (ATC) services.
  • The Irish airline still operated over 109,000 flights in June, indicating that fewer than 1% of flights were affected by the strikes.
  • Ryanair carried 19.9 million passengers in June, a 3% increase on the same month last year.

Statistics:

  • 170: The number of flights cancelled by Ryanair due to French air traffic control strikes.
  • 274: The number of flights cancelled by EasyJet during the planned action.
  • 109,000: The number of flights operated by Ryanair in June.
  • 1%: The percentage of flights affected by the strikes.
  • 19.9 million: The number of passengers carried by Ryanair in June.
  • 3%: The increase in passengers carried by Ryanair in June compared to the same month last year.

Sources:

  • scotsman.com
  • Ryanair press release (no date)