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Ryanair forced to cancel nearly 100 flights due to 'inexplicable' strikes

05 June 2024 , 15:46
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And the other strikes set to cause travel chaos later this month
And the other strikes set to cause travel chaos later this month

RYANAIR has been forced to cancel nearly 100 flights at short notice due to ongoing strike action.

The budget airline confirmed that the cancellations would affect thousands of Brits set to travel this week.

Ryanair has cancelled nearly 100 flights at short notice eidekiqtiqrtprw
Ryanair has cancelled nearly 100 flights at short noticeCredit: Getty

Air traffic controllers across France are gong on strike tomorrow - the 84th day of strikes since 2023.

The cancellations will affect passengers travelling to and from Paris Beauvais Airport.

Ryanair has been campaigning for the EU to protect overflights by law during strikes.

I'm a flight attendant who only carries hand luggage on holiday - here's howI'm a flight attendant who only carries hand luggage on holiday - here's how

A Ryanair spokesperson said: "It is inexplicable that Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission have failed to take action to protect EU passengers’ Freedom of Movement during these repeated French ATC strikes.

"As a result, we have been forced to cancel almost 100 flight to/from Paris Beauvais Airport tomorrow, Thurs 6th June, unfairly disrupting thousands of EU passengers’ travel plans at short notice."

They added: "EU passengers are sick and tired of suffering unnecessary cancellations during ATC strikes.

"The EU Commission must now act upon Ryanair’s Protect Passengers - Keep EU Skies Open petition of more than 2.1m EU passengers’ signatures which Ryanair delivered directly to the EU Commission offices in May, Sept and Jan last.

"There is no excuse for EU passengers to bear the burden of national ATC strikes that are completely unrelated to them and its time that Ursula von der Leyen and the EU Commission do something about it.”

Ryanair passengers affected by the strike will be contacted.

Passengers can request a new flight or a full refund.

While the full list of cancelled flights to and from the UK have not been revealed, current flights cancelled include:

  • FR3579 from Leeds to Beauvais at 11:35am
  • FR718 from Birmingham to Beauvais at 12:45pm
  • FR5591 from Edinburgh to Beauvais at 2:05pm
  • FR3580 from Beauvais to Leeds at 2:45pm

Ryanair currently operates to Paris Beauvais Airport from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Other flights across France may be affected as well.

I'm a pilot - the passenger habit that drives me mad and I bet you're guiltyI'm a pilot - the passenger habit that drives me mad and I bet you're guilty

Paris Beauvais Airport has also issued a travel warning to passengers, saying: "Major disruptions are expected in the flight schedule.

"Please contact your airline for any information on the status of your flight."

The last strike action in April resulted in the airline being forced to cancel more than 3,000 flights impacting 50,000 travellers.

They included flights from the UK to France as well as to Spain and Italy.

And more strike action is set to cause chaos this month.

French air traffic controllers from the Unsa-Inca are threatening to walk out from June 11-13.

This comes less than a month after their previous strike action, which saw up to 70 per cent of flights cancelled.

There are fears that, if the strike goes ahead, similar cancellations could hit passengers - just before the summer holidays.

Paris Orly will be affected the worst, although Charles de Gaulle as well as Marseille were previously affected.

And a similar strike back in April was called off at the last minute, but around 70 per cent of flights were still cancelled.

The airline had to cancel hundreds of flights earlier this year due to similar strike action
The airline had to cancel hundreds of flights earlier this year due to similar strike action

Kara Godfrey

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