A two-day walkout by French air traffic controllers has disrupted over 300,000 passengers and grounded more than 1,500 flights across Europe. The strike, which began on Thursday, was called in protest of staff shortages and “toxic management practices”.
Industry lobby Airlines for Europe reported that half of the flights at Nice Airport and a quarter of flights at Paris Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports have been cancelled. Disruptions are expected to worsen on Friday, with a 40% reduction in flights ordered at Paris airports and Beauvais.
The DGAC civil aviation authority has asked airlines to cancel some flights to ensure there are enough controllers on duty. The Transport Minister has called the union demands “unacceptable”, while Ryanair described the action as “intolerable”.
The strike involved 270 air traffic controllers from a total workforce of around 1,400 and was launched by two unions, UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, to demand better working conditions, more staff, and changes to outdated equipment.
Passengers are feeling the impact, with one person describing the strikes as “punitive” and another saying they understand the right to strike but finds it inconvenient.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20250703-french-air-traffic-controller-strike-forces-ryanair-to-cancel-170-flights