04/10/2025
Warning of flight cancelations across Western Europe 😑
FRENCH AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS STRIKE SCHEDULED FOR 7 - 10 OCTOBER CALLED OFF.
NEWS UPDATE:
French air traffic controllers have called off a three-day strike that threatened to disrupt European flights next week, a top union said on Saturday.
The main union in the sector, the SNCTA, announced the suspension of its strike notice for Tuesday to Thursday following consultations with the Civil Aviation Authority and "agreements" with the management.
The union, which represents around 60 percent of workers, has pushed for better pay and conditions.
The statement also referred to a promise by new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu not to ram his austerity budget through parliament without a vote, seen as a key concession to the opposition.
EARLIER
The main French air traffic control union, SNCTA, has announced a strike from 7 to 10 October 2025, which is expected to cause tens of thousands of flight cancellations and delays across western Europe.
Ryanair (FR) and EasyJet (U2) are warning of massive disruptions across Europe.
The union's reasons for striking include grievances over air traffic control governance, citing "mistrust, punitive practices, and brutal managerial methods," and a demand for pay restoration to counter inflation.
The industrial action is anticipated to severely impact flights, especially those overflying French airspace, with previous strikes leading to thousands of cancellations and significant costs for the aviation industry.
Airlines are legally obliged to re-route passengers and provide accommodation and meals for cancelled flights, irrespective of the strike's cause, although fulfilling these duties can be challenging during widespread disruption.
With European skies highly interlinked, a strike in France disrupts not only flights to or from the country but also those crossing its airspace, making this one of the most disruptive forms of industrial action in Europe’s aviation sector.
RYAN AIR
Ryanair's CEO has warned that 100,000 passengers could face flight cancellations during the air traffic controllers' strike in France, which will take place between the 7th and 10th. In the first two days of the protest, the head of the low-cost airline, Michael O'Leary, told the blog 'Sky Money' that Ryanair expects to cancel 600 flights.
ADVICE TO PASSENGERS
Airlines will not know which flights are affected and which will need to be cancelled until just before the industrial action begins
Both airlines have advised customers to regularly check their flight status online and expect possible last-minute changes.
Refunds or rebooking options will be offered to affected passengers, but carriers stressed that many cancellations may not be confirmed until hours before takeoff, depending on staffing levels.
