France’s air traffic controllers have gone on strike, demanding better salaries and more staff. This protest has disrupted summer travel for nearly 300,000 people, with over 1,500 flights affected so far.
The strike, which began on Wednesday and lasted two days, forced airlines across Europe to cancel or delay flights during France’s busy “Grand Départ” holiday season. Ryanair had to cancel 170 flights, while easyJet scrapped 274. These disruptions have deeply impacted airline operations and ruined many vacation plans.
Airlines Feel the Pressure
Ryanair has asked political leaders to step in. The airline warned that continuous disruptions hurt business while air traffic control staff protest against long hours and mental stress.
Frédéric Deleau, vice president for Europe at the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations, admitted that the strikes would “eventually have a negative impact on the network, that’s for sure.”
What Are the Protesters Asking For?
The protest is led by two major unions—UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT. They are demanding fairer wages, better working conditions, more recruitment, and faster upgrades to outdated systems and tools.
In response to the protest, France’s civil aviation authority ordered flight cuts of up to 50% at several airports. This led to delays not only in France but across Europe.
Airline companies and executives criticized the strikes. They asked the European Union to protect overflights and warned that air travel chaos would continue unless major changes are made to Europe’s air traffic system.
Long-Term Challenges in the Air Traffic System
However, fixing the problem won’t be quick. Training an air traffic controller takes at least three years. Also, Europe’s airspace is controlled by 40 different agencies, each managing specific areas. This fragmented system makes it hard to move staff around when needed.
“Worst Summer Yet” for European Aviation
Experts are calling this one of the worst summers for European air travel.
Paul Reuter, vice president of the European Cockpit Association, told Politico, “Every summer since Covid has been the worst summer until now.” He explained that airports and airspace are already at full capacity. So, even a small problem can throw the entire system into chaos.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for Transport, said 2024 has already become the worst year for flight delays in Europe. He warned that the situation could get even worse in the coming months.