Ryanair warns of major flight disruption due to European ATC strikes this summer.

The upcoming summer travel season faces a significant threat. Britons summer travel chaos is predicted due to potential European air traffic control strikes.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary issued a stark Michael O’Leary warning on 21 January. He told UK travel buyers to prepare for widespread cancellations. The airline anticipates rolling walkouts, especially by French controllers, peaking in May and June.

The French Overflight Problem

Strikes are expected to disrupt up to 60% of Western European overflights. This includes thousands of flights serving British airports. France’s central location makes its airspace critical for routes to Spain and beyond. When French controllers strike, flights that do not land in France are still affected. Airlines must reroute via Spanish or German airspace. This adds time, distance, and fuel costs to the journey.

Ryanair reported losing over 1,000 sectors during a July 2025 French strike. The carrier also scrapped 933 flights in a single day earlier this month. This highlights the severe impact of the current model.

Calls for EU ATC Reform

Mr. O’Leary has consistently blasted the current system as a “broken model.” He renewed calls for urgent EU ATC reform. The airline urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene.

Ryanair demands the Commission fine Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs). This would penalize them for failing to guarantee minimum staffing guarantees. O’Leary also wants France to permit French ATC overflights during domestic stoppages. Greece, Italy, and Spain already adopt this concession. The airline argues that the current system is inexcusable. It inflicts avoidable delays on millions of EU citizens every month.

UK Airspace and NATS System Failure

The issue of Ryanair flight disruption is not limited to continental Europe. The airline recently called for the resignation of NATS CEO Martin Rolfe. This followed a NATS system failure at Birmingham Airport (BHX) on January 12, 2026.

The radar outage caused several diversions and delays of up to four hours. Ryanair stated this was another example of NATS’ continued mismanagement. The airline argues UK airspace users pay higher charges for a declining service. They demand Rolfe fix the broken UK ATC service or step aside. The broader context shows ATC structural issues are responsible for a majority of en-route delays across Europe.

Corporate Travel Contingency

For corporate travel managers, the Michael O’Leary warning is significant. Major UK hubs like Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester lie on routes that overfly France. This is true even for intra-UK and UK-Ireland services.

Travel-management companies (TMCs) are advising clients to take action:

• Build buffer days into project schedules.
• Secure flexible tickets and fares.
• Stock corporate travel contingency budgets.

According to Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation, capacity constraints and staffing problems are major delay factors. The aviation industry needs long-term solutions to protect passenger freedom of movement.

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