French air traffic strike: Ryanair, easyJet and BA cancel more than 100 flights as walkout prompts disruptions

For the second time in a week, airline flight schedules to and from the UK are being severely disrupted. Storm Katie tore across southern Britain on Monday, causing hundreds of cancellations and diversions. On Thursday the cause was striking air-traffic controllers in France, which has also affected services to many other destinations.

The action is part of a nationwide strike that also involves other transport workers, teachers and broadcast staff. They are protesting against government plans to relax the 35-hour week and other worker benefits.

So far British Airways has cancelled 30 flights to and from Heathrow to France and Spain, plus others from London City and Gatwick to Spain.

BA said: “The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) has mandated the cancellation of a number of flights for all airlines using French airspace. Unfortunately, in addition to cancelling some flights to and from France, other European flights which use French airspace will also be affected and are likely to experience delays and cancellations.”

The airline will try to use larger aircraft to reduce the level of disruption.

Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, said 65 per cent of its flights pass through French airspace, and added: “Unfortunately even flights not flying through French airspace could be affected, if the aircraft operating the flight has been delayed due to the strike on previous flights.” The airline warned: “In many cases, we have to push back our aircraft from the gate and then wait on the airfield so that we can take advantage of potential improvements of departure slots.”

Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, has cancelled more than 100 flights - likely to affect more than 15,000 passengers. The carrier claimed it is the third such strike in two weeks and the 43rd in seven years - which works out at one stoppage every eight weeks on average.

The airline said: “This latest unjustified action shows that a tiny French union can yet again hold Europe’s single market and open skies to ransom while the French Government protects French domestic flights.”

The airline also alleged that Air France services are being protected by “minimum service obligations”. Air France said that it will operate its entire schedule to and from its main base at Paris Charles de Gaulle, as well as all its long-haul flights from other airports and 80 per cent of domestic flights from Paris Orly.

The cost to airlines is likely to run into tens of millions of pounds. While stranded passengers are not entitled to cash compensation, they can claim meals and accommodation until they are finally flown to their destination.

Airlines for Europe, which represents the biggest carriers in Europe, is demanding intervention from the European Commission to limit the disruption by striking controllers.

The managing director, Thomas Reynaert, said: “Repeated and disproportionate industrial action by French ATC unions is seriously impacting the travel plans of thousands of passengers during Easter. It is unacceptable that airlines and their customers can be repeatedly punished by these unjustified strikes.”

P&O Ferries, the biggest operator across the Channel to France, said: “We are confident that we will be able to maintain a scheduled service on our Dover-Calais route.”

Eurostar trains from London to Paris and Brussels are running normally, and most long-distance rail services within France appear to be unaffected.