Ryanair cancels 102 flights due to French strikes

Ryanair has cancelled 102 flights on Tuesday due to air traffic control (ATC) strikes in France, the airline said on Monday.

More than 18,000 customers had their flights cancelled and the airline said customers should check ryanair.com before travelling.

The ATC unions have disagreed with a fall in staff numbers and a prospective limit on summer holidays. They called for financial compensation for restrictive working hours, as more staff were working weekends, and for better retirement conditions.

The strike on Thursday will be the 53rd strike since 2009 and the 13th the last 14 weeks. There had been recent industrial action in France against reform to labour laws which would make hiring and firing employees easier.

Only 10% of the workforce in France belongs to a union, the lowest in Europe, but any negotiated labour conditions are applied to everyone working in any sector.

Ryanair chief meeting officer Kenny Jacobs said: “We are calling on the European Commission to take action to prevent these ATC strikes from disrupting the travel plans of Europe’s citizens and their families.

“The recent Brexit vote underlines that the European Commission must begin to deliver real benefits for Europe’s consumers, and show families and holiday makers that Europe is on their side.”

Shares in Ryanair were down 2.36% to 11.57p at 1630 BST.