French air traffic strike suspended but Ryanair silent over 1,800 cancelled flights

Ryanair has renewed its criticism of French air traffic control, accusing it of “recreational strikes” and poor staffing, despite the cancellation of a three-day walkout planned for October 7, 8 and 9.

Before the suspension was confirmed, Ryanair had said it would cancel up to 1,800 flights during the period, affecting around 100,000 passengers. 

The airline has not yet clarified whether those services will now go ahead, but it would be unusual for cancellations to be maintained without strike action. The proposed cancellations were expected to cost Ryanair €23million, according to its chief executive Michael O’Leary.

Instead passengers have been advised to continue checking the company’s website and app for updates.

The Syndicat national des contrôleurs du trafic aérien (SNCTA) announced on Saturday that it would lift its strike notice for October 7-9 after reaching agreement with the Direction générale de l’aviation civile (DGAC). 

The action, which would have seen controllers stop work from Tuesday morning until early Friday, was expected to disrupt thousands of flights across Europe.

‘Ursula von Delayed-Again’

Ryanair has seized on the strike threat to step up its campaign against what it describes as chronic failings in Europe’s air traffic control system. 

In a statement it said French controllers were responsible for more delays than any other country in the bloc, with 57,000 Ryanair flights affected since January, a rise of 66% compared with last year. 

The company claims this has delayed journeys for more than 10 million passengers.

Spain and Germany follow France in Ryanair’s internal league table of flight disruption, with 34,000 and 16,000 delayed flights. 

Ryanair has again urged the European Commission to intervene. The company mocked commission president Ursula von der Leyen as “Ursula von Derlayed-Again” and called for immediate reform, including recruitment of more controllers and protection of flights that pass through French airspace but do not land in the country.

Ryanair has also launched a website page, Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight, listing the email addresses of transport ministers in the countries it blames for disruption, including outgoing French minister Philippe Tabarot. 

The airline is encouraging passengers to complain directly to governments in the hope of building pressure for reform.

While the immediate strike has been avoided, the dispute underlines continuing strains in French air traffic control. 

The SNCTA has demanded inflation-linked pay rises and changes to management practices it describes as “punitive”. It previously postponed a strike planned for September 18 after the government collapse left no clear counterpart for negotiations.

With more industrial action possible, Ryanair’s dispute with France and Brussels looks set to continue. For passengers, the uncertainty highlights the fragility of Europe’s air network whenever disputes arise in French skies.