Ryanair boss warns French strikes will cause summer travel ‘mess’

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has issued a warning to passengers travelling in Europe this summer, predicting that French staff will “start striking” in May or June.

“We think this summer will be another mess with air traffic control,” stated Mr O'Leary during an interview with The Independent at the airline’s Q3 briefing on January 21.

“Air traffic controllers will start not showing up to work on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer schedule, and we will end up with these mythical ATC capacity restrictions. They are not capacity restrictions, they are ATC staff shortages,” he continued.

French air traffic control took industrial strike action from July 3-4 last year - dates specifically chosen to coincide with the end of the school year. This caused widespread delays, with Ryanair cancelling at least 170 flights, disrupting the travel plans of more than 30,000 passengers. 

Unions leading the strikes in July were citing understaffing, salaries not keeping in line with inflation and deteriorating working conditions.

French air traffic controllers were also responsible for 31% of all air traffic control-based delays in Europe across the summer 2025 period, according to European air traffic management body Eurocontrol, making French flights the worst in Europe for delays.

How certain is this and what rights if it happens?

For now no definite plans to strike have been announced by the French air traffic controller unions and if they do announce strikes they are legally obliged to give five days' notice.

If you book a flight and it is cancelled due to strike action, the question of compensation arises.

As an air traffic controller strike is deemed to be something out of the control of airlines (as the controllers are not their own staff), specific compensation claims are often not possible.

However, airlines should offer you a refund of your ticket or, if appropriate, a seat on the next convenient and available flight.

If the cancellation occurs after you arrive at the airport to fly, then you should be offered free drinks and meals, as well as refunds of hotel and transport expenses if the next flight is the following day. 

If you apply to the company to claim refunds of expenses, including proof of these, it should reply within two months. 

Air travel impacted across Europe

French air traffic control strikes can affect not only flights taking off or landing in France, but also flights passing over French airspace. 

The geographical location of France means that restrictions to its airspace can impact several European routes - meaning travel to and from several countries, such as Spain and Italy, may be disrupted. 

Many flights passing via Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports also rely on routes that overfly France. 

Journeys could be rerouted through Spanish or German airspace, for example, but this is often more expensive and leads to longer flight times.

"We believe the European Union should be fining air traffic control providers if they are not fully staffed for the first wave of morning flights," said Mr O'Leary.

Travellers planning on flying in Europe this summer may want to consider purchasing flexible tickets, extra insurance, and prepare for the possibility of unexpected expenses due to travel disruption.

French routes impacted by Ryanair cuts

Ryanair is expected to cut more services to France in summer 2026, particularly to regional airports, citing ‘unviable’ tax increases. 

This comes despite the airline posting record summer profits and annual passenger numbers.

Cuts were expected to be similar to those of the current winter 2025 schedule, which saw a 13% reduction in flights to France, however the budget carrier has since announced plans to reopen its Tours - London Stansted route, and several UK - Bergerac and UK - Béziers routes.