France’s civil aviation authority also ordered airlines to reduce flight schedules at multiple airports, with even more cancellations expected on Friday.

By Titilope Adako

Ryanair has cancelled more than 170 flights, affecting over 30,000 passengers, due to a two-day strike by French air traffic controllers protesting working conditions.

The walkout, led by two unions, has caused major disruption across France and beyond, with 25% of flights grounded at Paris airports and 50% at Nice.

France’s civil aviation authority also ordered airlines to reduce flight schedules at multiple airports, with even more cancellations expected on Friday.

The strike has not only impacted flights to and from France but also those flying over French airspace to destinations such as the UK, Ireland, Spain and Greece.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary criticised the action, accusing controllers of “holding European families to ransom,” and called on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to implement protections for overflying aircraft during national strikes.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot condemned both the timing and the demands of the unions, calling the strike unacceptable during the peak travel season.

The UNSA-ICNA union said staffing shortages, poor management, and a controversial new clock-in system triggered the protest.

Talks with authorities earlier in the week failed to break the deadlock.

Airlines for Europe (A4E) labelled the strike “intolerable,” warning of its severe impact on summer travel, while EasyJet expressed “deep disappointment” and urged a swift resolution.

Ryanair, which was also affected by recent instability in the Middle East, noted that despite the cancellations, it still operated more than 109,000 flights in June, with less than 1% affected.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

KoikiMedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep