Ryanair WARNING: Summer holiday flights could ‘meltdown’ due to continued strikes
RYANAIR’S CEO Michael O’Leary has warned that passengers flying this summer could experience a huge “meltdown” with delayed and cancelled flights in light of the ATC strike in France.
Ryanair’s warning comes in light of the airline being forced to cancel more than 1,000 flights last month thanks to the strike by air traffic control.
Other airlines such as easyJet also suffered; they cancelled 974 flights in May.
The ATC strikes in France are scheduled for most weekends leading up to peak season, with the latest reported for this weekend.
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary has warned of the catastrophic disaster it could mean if the problem continues to plague European airspace.
Flights to France as well as any flights that travel over France will be affected.
Flights to France as well as any flights that travel over France will be affected
O’Leary told Sky News that it is leading to “hundreds of flights being cancelled,” which, in the busy summer months, could affect thousands of passengers.
He explained: “Many of these flights don't even touch France, yet they will be disruptive because French ATC requires airlines to cancel overflights while they protect French domestic routes.
“Europe's airlines are also suffering thousands of ATC delays/cancellations because of staff shortages especially in German and UK ATC providers.”
He is calling on the EU commission to take action against the issue to prevent the cancellation of overflights.
O’Leary is also warning that ATC providers should be fully staffed to prevent the problem from escalating.
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The low-cost airline has recently opened their newest UK base at London Southend airport.
In a press conference earlier this week, Ryanair’s CCO David O’Brien issued the warning that action must be taken to prevent further disruption regarding ATC strikes.
He explained: “We can do very little regarding ATC.
“Every carrier is going to start to be noisier on this subject. Airlines such as Lufthansa are cancelling a number of flights these days.
“All we can do is to keep bringing this subject to the attention of those making the regulations.
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“It is truly a scandal that a couple of hundred ATC controllers can affect airports.
“The proposal is that neighbouring ATC providers should be able to provide overflight air traffic control of those countries on strike.”
The airline has experienced an increase in passengers and profits, according to latest figures.
Passenger numbers hit 12.5 million last month, with a plane capacity of 96 per cent.
Profits also increase to £1.3 billion despite issues last year of flight cancellations.