By Holly Williams
Thousands of passengers have had their travel plans disrupted after low-cost airlines Ryanair and easyJet cancelled hundreds of flights due to French air traffic control strikes.
Ryanair said it was forced to make 170 cancellations on Thursday and Friday as the strikes affect flights to and from France 鈥 and also flights over the country to destinations such as the UK, Greece, Spain and Ireland 鈥 impacting more than 30,000 passengers.
Luton-based rival easyJet said it had cancelled 124 flights today and was scrapping 150 tomorrow due to the industrial action.
EasyJet said customers have been contacted directly and have the option to transfer to another flight for free or receive a refund, but advised all passengers to check the status of their flights in case of further disruption over the next two days.
鈥淲hile this is outside of our control, we will do all we can to minimise the impact of the strike action,鈥 easyJet said.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O鈥橪eary renewed calls on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take 鈥渦rgent action鈥 to reform European Union air traffic control (ATC) services in light of the disruption, which comes at the start of the European summer holidays.
Mr O鈥橪eary said: 鈥淥nce again, European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike.
鈥淚t is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike.
鈥淚t makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.鈥
EasyJet echoed the plea, asking for 鈥渓ong-term solutions鈥.
It said: 鈥淥n behalf of our passengers we are extremely unhappy with the strike action, particularly given the current performance of French ATC which has been the leading cause of airspace delays in Europe this summer.
鈥淟ong term solutions must be found for our customers and crew who suffer repeated disruption.鈥
Airlines have long-campaigned for an overhaul of ATC services across Europe.
Ryanair said it wants the EU to ensure ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures, as well as to protect overflights during national ATC strikes.
鈥淭hese two splendid reforms would eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike,鈥 Mr O鈥橪eary added.
Ryanair also said on Wednesday it had been hit by the recent conflict in the Middle East, and it cancelled more than 800 flights last month.
It is among those to have cancelled and rerouted flights amid the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as continued attacks in Gaza, which last week saw flights halted at Dubai airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).