Advertisement
We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you’ve seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
One-off amount
I already contribute
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Investigates
Investigates
Money Diaries
Daft.ie Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
TG4 Entertainment Magazine
The Journal TV
Climate Crisis
Cost of Living
Road Safety
Newsletters
Temperature Check
Inside the Newsroom
The Journal Investigates
The Explainer
A deep dive into one big news story
Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture
have your say
Or create a free account to join the discussion
Advertisement
More Stories
In the Ryanair statement released this morning, the airline called for urgent action from the EU president.Alamy Stock Photo
French Strikes
Ryanair wants the EU to reform air traffic services after French strikes cancel 400 flights
French air traffic controllers went on strike this week over ‘chronic understaffing’ and other working conditions.
10.43am, 6 Jul 2025
Share options
RYANAIR HAS CALLED for urgent reform of air traffic services from the EU, as it says it was forced to cancel over 400 flights this past week.
French air traffic controllers went on strike as summer holidays kicked off this week.
The two unions behind the industrial action called for better working conditions and to protest against “chronic understaffing”.
France’s DGAC aviation authority said 933 flights departing from or arriving at French airports were cancelled on Thursday, with around 1,000 flights cancelled on Friday. The strikes have continued this weekend.
Of these, Ryanair said its 400 cancelled flights disrupted the travel plans of over 70,000 passengers.
In the Ryanair statement released this morning, the Irish budget airline called on von der Leyen to take urgent action to reform EU ATC services by ensuring that ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures, and by protecting overflights during national strikes.
Advertisement
It argued that these two reforms would “eliminate 90%” of all air traffic delays and “protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another recreational French ATC strike”.
Ryanair said it was renewing its call for European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen “to quit if she will not take action to urgently reform” EU air traffic control services.
It added that a “tiny handful” of French air traffic controllers had caused “mass delays across Europe” by engaging in two more days of strikes this weekend.
UNSA-ICNA, the second biggest labour group in the sector, launched the action to protest against “chronic understaffing”, the planned introduction of a clock-in system, outdated equipment and “toxic management practices that are incompatible with the requirements of calm and safety”.
It was joined by the third largest union, USAC-CGT but the main union, SNCTA, has not joined the action.
“It is completely unacceptable that two or three French Air Traffic Controllers can simply decide to extend these recreational French ATC strikes without any notice and ruin the travel plans of thousands of EU passengers and their families over one of the busiest travel weekends of the year,” a spokesperson for Ryanair said.
“Meanwhile EU President Ursula von der Leyen has failed to take any action to reform Europe’s ATC service,” the spokesperson said, adding that she had “failed” for the last 6 years.
“As a result, EU passengers are now being held to ransom once again by a handful of French Air Traffic Controllers.”
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone…
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Support The Journal
Eoghan Dalton
View 10 comments
Send Tip or Correction
Embed this post
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Email “Ryanair wants the EU to reform air traffic services after French strikes cancel 400 flights”.
Recipient’s Email
Feedback on “Ryanair wants the EU to reform air traffic services after French strikes cancel 400 flights”.
Your Feedback
Your Email (optional)
Report a Comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment.
Please give full details of the problem with the comment…
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
before taking part.
Leave a Comment
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Damaging the good reputation of someone, slander, or libel.
Racism or Hate speech
An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs.
Trolling or Off-topic
An attempt to derail the discussion.
Inappropriate language
Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs.
Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts.
Please provide additional information
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
Leave a commentcancel
Newly created accounts can only comment using The Journal app.
This is to add an extra layer of security to account creation.
Download and sign into the app to continue.
Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user
View our policy
⚠️ Duplicate comment
Post Comment
have your say
Or create a free account to join the discussion
Air traffic controllers
french air traffic control
French Strikes
News in 60 seconds
The Morning Lead
‘It was apparent that we were in hot pursuit’: The inside story of the raid on the MV Matthew
Niall O’Connor
Ozzy Osbourne graces black throne during final live performance in hometown
America Party
Elon Musk says he has created a new political party for the US
7 deadly reads
Sitdown Sunday: Virginia Giuffre’s family share what happened in her final days
Good Morning
The 9 at 9: Sunday
Texas flooding
Latest toll shows 15 children among 51 dead in Texas flooding
government plans
Opinion: So now it’s cost over design for new state buildings? What could possibly go wrong?
Gardaí investigate after ‘bomb’ defused at Limerick factory
Cork v Dublin, All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Actor Julian McMahon, known for Charmed and Nip/Tuck, dies aged 56
Search for girls missing from Texas camp after flash flooding as 27 people confirmed dead
more from us
Investigates
Daft.ie Property Magazine
Allianz Home Magazine
The 42 Sports Magazine
TG4 Entertainment Magazine
Money Diaries
The Journal TV
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
About FactCheck
Our Network
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
more from us
TV Listings
GAA Fixtures
The Video Review
Journal Media
Advertise With Us
Our Network
The Journal
FactCheck Knowledge Bank
Terms & Legal Notices
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
© 2025 Journal Media Ltd
Terms of Use
Cookies & Privacy
Advertising
Competition
Switch to Desktop
Switch to Mobile
The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie
Report an error, omission or problem:
Your Email (optional)
Create Email Alert
Create an email alert based on the current article
Email Address
One email every morning
As soon as new articles come online