Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed, 16 July) called on Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” to take urgent action to reform Europe’s failed ATC service as French ATC engage in yet another “recreational” French ATC strike today (Wed, 16 July), unfairly disrupting the travel plans of 30,000 Ryanair passengers – almost all of which are not flying to/from France but passing through French airspace en route to their destination.

Almost 20% of EU flights overfly France, yet French minimum services do not protect overflights during French ATC strikes (as other EU States like Greece, Italy and Spain do). Earlier this month (3&4 July), French ATC strikes forced the cancellation of 1,500 flights which cancelled the travel plans of over 270,000 EU citizens and their families. 90% of these cancellations would have been avoided if overflights over France were protected during French ATC strikes. It is unacceptable that less than 2 weeks later, a further 30,000 passengers’ travel plans have been disrupted due to yet another “recreational” French ATC strike.

Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” has a duty to protect the single market for air travel and to keep the upper airspace over France open so that passengers who are not travelling to/from France can continue to fly during these repeated French ATC strikes. Ursula von “Derlayed-Again” must now take action to reform Europe’s failed ATC services or quit and let someone competent to do the job.