Ryanair Flags Possible Summer Disruption as French ATC Strikes Loom

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has warned that potential French air traffic control strikes in late spring could cause significant disruption across Europe. Speaking during the airline’s third-quarter results briefing on 21 January, he said that industrial action by French controllers was likely in May or June, with staff shortages and lengthy delays returning during peak weekends. He also criticised what he described as capacity restrictions that tend to appear during strike periods.

French air traffic control walkouts have previously impacted holiday travel. Last July, Ryanair cancelled around 170 flights during a strike period, affecting more than 30,000 people. Unions cited understaffing, pay disputes and working conditions, while airlines reported knock-on delays across the continent. Eurocontrol later reported that French ATC generated 31% of all air traffic control-linked delays in Europe during the summer 2025 schedule, showing how central the country is to Europe’s air corridors.

Airlines based in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain rely heavily on French airspace for services bound for southern Europe, the Canaries, North Africa and parts of Italy. When controllers stop work, flights must be cancelled or diverted around France, adding flight time and creating bottlenecks. O’Leary argued that Brussels should intervene to ensure minimum staffing levels during peak seasons, saying that disruptions could spill into June if strikes are confirmed.

While labour disputes rarely create new routes, they do alter routing patterns and transfer options. Airports in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and northern Italy tend to pick up more connecting traffic during French ATC strikes, because many airlines choose to route planes through neighbouring airspace instead. Cities such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan and Geneva gain temporary importance as gateways for southern destinations, giving holidaymakers more viable paths to the Mediterranean when France becomes restricted.

The situation remains speculative, with no strike notice currently filed, but airlines are watching French labour talks closely. If walkouts materialise in late spring, booking patterns may shift toward airports less exposed to French airspace. For those planning summer holidays, flexibility could be useful once airlines publish final timetables and contingency plans. The coming months will show whether negotiations in France can prevent a repeat of last year’s high-season disruption.