Ryanair has warned that up to 100,000 passengers could face flight cancellations next week due to planned strikes by French air traffic controllers. The industrial action, organised by France's biggest air traffic controllers' union, is scheduled from October 7 to 10, threatening to disrupt holiday plans for tens of thousands of travellers.
The budget airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, estimated that around 600 flights would be grounded, costing the carrier approximately £20 million. He told Sky News that almost all cancellations would be overflights—those passing through French airspace but not landing in France—and that UK flights are particularly affected due to geographic proximity.
The strike was originally planned for September 17-18 but was postponed due to political turmoil. Travel experts are forecasting widespread disruption, with Charles de Gaulle Airport alone handling over 200,000 passengers daily during the peak October season. France recorded roughly 1 million overnight stays by international tourists between October 9-11 in 2024.
O'Leary called for overflights to be protected from strike action, noting that countries like Spain and Greece already offer such protections, but France does not. He described the disruption of overflights as an abuse of the free single market.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines 48 hours before departure, arrive early at airports, and download airline apps for updates. If flights are delayed or cancelled due to cabin crew or pilot strikes, passengers are entitled to compensation. However, strikes by airport staff or air traffic controllers are considered outside the airline's control, so no compensation applies.
