Ryanair has announced that more than 200 flights would not depart on Monday.
Micheal O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, blamed last-minute disruptions to French air traffic control strikes in a video message posted to Twitter. There will be 40,000 people affected by the cancellation of 220 flights on Monday.
Mr. O’Leary apologised to the customers and insisted that the EU Commission must mandate the protection of overflights from France. He added: “We’re doing everything we can to re-accommodate you. You would have received email notifications from us and we’re doing our best to get you back as quickly as we can despite this unacceptable 51st day of French ATC strikes this year.”
Over 3,700 flights have already been cancelled by Ryanair this year due to strikes. Overall, 666,000 travellers have been affected.
The airline chief said: “France is using minimum service legislation to protect its local French flights. But all of the cancellations are then being disproportionately passed on to English flights, Irish flights, Italian flights, Spanish and German flights, this is unfair…
“France must be required by the EU Commission to protect overflights. It is unfair that flights from the UK to Spain or flights from Italy to Portugal are being canceled simply because a bunch of French Air Traffic Controllers want to go on strike.”
Additionally, Mr. O’Leary said that while he respected the employees’ right to strike, domestic French flights is appropriate to be cancelled rather than international ones.
Ryanair’s petition requesting that the European Commission halt French strikes from affecting overflights has received more than 600,000 signatures. On the Ryanair app for several weeks, there has been a notice directing users to the petition.