Ryanair cancels hundreds of flights amid French air traffic control strikes

France has seen significant disruption in air travel beginning on July 3, 2025, as French air traffic control (ATC) employees went on strike, leading the low-cost airline Ryanair to cancel more than 170 flights. These cancellations predominantly affected flights to and from France and also included overflights to destinations like the UK, Greece, Spain, and Ireland. Ryanair reported that the strike impacted over 30,000 passengers and coincided with the start of the European summer holiday period, which amplified the frustration for families traveling during this peak time. Ryanair's CEO, Michael O’Leary, criticized the situation, asserting that European families are once again being adversely affected due to repetitive strike actions by French ATC staff. He emphasized that it is unreasonable for flights transiting French airspace to experience cancellations and delays, particularly highlighting the timing at the onset of summer holidays. O’Leary urged EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to implement urgent reforms aimed at improving ATC services across the European Union to better manage and mitigate such strikes in the future. To address these ongoing challenges, Ryanair has advocated for changes to ensure ATC services are properly staffed at the start of daily operations and to protect overflights during national strikes. O’Leary claimed these reforms could reduce ATC-related delays and cancellations by up to 90%. Additionally, Ryanair's communications indicated that the airline has faced other challenges recently, including disruptions caused by conflicts in the Middle East, which resulted in over 800 flight cancellations the previous month. Despite these recent strife instances, Ryanair continued to operate over 109,000 flights in June 2025, indicating that less than 1% of their operations were affected by these cancellations. The French Transport Minister, Philippe Tabarot, also expressed his discontent with the strike's timing, asserting it was unacceptable for ATC staff to strike during a peak travel period. Tabarot pointed out that Air France is also experiencing significant financial losses due to these strikes, indicating the broader economic repercussions that disrupt nearly all major airlines operating in and out of French airspace. He labeled the ongoing labor actions of air traffic controllers as irresponsible, given the financial implications for both airlines and consumers, and stated that such losses might ultimately burden French taxpayers as well. This atmosphere of tension highlights the ongoing strained relationship between airline operators and air traffic control employees, which is positioned at the forefront of ongoing discussions regarding labor relations within the aviation sector in Europe.