Ryanair urges EU action as French ATC strike cancels 170 flights, disrupts 30,000 passengers

Ryanair has called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to urgently reform EU air traffic control (ATC) services after a French ATC strike on 3–4 July 2025 forced the airline to cancel 170 flights, affecting over 30,000 passengers at the peak of the summer holiday season.

The strike impacts not only flights to and from France, but also overflights—flights that simply pass through French airspace—highlighting France’s failure to protect non-domestic traffic during ATC walkouts. Ryanair criticised the disruption to passengers travelling between countries like the UK, Spain, Ireland, and Greece who are not stopping in France.

CEO Michael O’Leary condemned the strike as holding “European families to ransom,” and renewed calls for the EU to:

1. Ensure full ATC staffing during peak morning hours, and
2. Guarantee overflight protection during national strikes.

Ryanair urges passengers to support its campaign for ATC reform through its “Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight” webpage, warning of continued summer chaos unless the EU acts swiftly.