Several major ex-UK carriers, including Jet2.com and easyJet, have warned of delays and disruption from ongoing French air traffic control (ATC) strikes, with Ryanair pre-emptively cancelling "a number of flights".
Both Jet2 and easyJet have sought to reassure passengers disruption from the action, which got under way at 6pm on Sunday (19 November) and will run until 6am on Tuesday (21 November), will be minimal.
Ryanair, meanwhile, has once again called on president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to take action to protect "overflights", flights using French airspace. The action will also affect flights to and from France itself.
French ATC staff walked out after a new law was introduced which states that they must inform their bosses at least 48 hours before any planned industrial action.
EasyJet expects some delays and disruption owing to the current strikes. “We advise all customers to check the status of their flights,” the carrier said.
“Although this situation is outside of our control, we would like to reassure customers that we are doing all we can to minimise any disruption to our flights that may occur as a result of the strike action.”
Jet2.com said it was working hard to ensure that the impact to flights was “minimal”. “However, you may encounter some disruption if you are travelling during this time,” it added.
“Please be prepared for possible longer than normal waits onboard your aircraft to depart. We will board all flights and close all gates for an on-time departure, this will allow us to depart as soon as we are advised we can.”
Ryanair again called for von der Leyen to protect overflights and appealed to passengers to sign its Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: “It is completely unacceptable that there have been 65 days of ATC strikes this year which have caused the cancellation of thousands of flights at short notice, unfairly disrupting EU passengers’ travel plans.
“Despite repeated calls on Ursula von der Leyen to protect passengers and overflights during these ATC strikes, she has failed to take any action to do so.”
The spokesperson added: “As a result, even more passengers will have their flights cancelled at short notice due to this French ATC strike on 20 November, despite not even flying to/from France.”
Find contacts for 260+ travel suppliers. Type name, company or destination.