Ryanair has cancelled 170 flights due to French air traffic control (ATC) strikes, with the airline estimating this will impact over 30,000 passengers.
The strike across July 3, and July 4, 2025, coincides with the start of the European summer holiday period, with flights to and from France cancelled, in addition to flights flying over French airspace.
According to Cirium data, as of July 3, 12:17 London time, 463 scheduled flights into French airports have been cancelled so far — equating to 22% of all scheduled arrivals into French airports. A further 455 scheduled departures have been cancelled so far, around 22% of scheduled departures.
In light of this strike action, the airline has called on EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to take action to reform EU ATC services.
“It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled or delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike,” said Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary. “It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.”
Two French unions are staging the two-day strike over working conditions, leading to a quarter of flights being cancelled at Paris' two main airports, along with half of flights at Nice airport.
French Transport Minister, Philippe Tabarot, branded the strike as “unacceptable”, noting the economic impact of this strike on airlines.