Ryanair has renewed its call for urgent reform to Europe’s air traffic control (ATC) systems as strikes by French ATC staff extend into a fourth consecutive day.
The budget airline says more than 400 of its flights have been cancelled this week, which has affected over 70,000 passengers during the height of the summer travel season.
In a statement issued today [Sunday, July 6], Ryanair said ongoing industrial action has caused delays and cancellations across Europe.
The airline is calling on EU President Ursula von der Leyen to quit if she will not ‘take action to urgently reform EU ATC services’.
The statement reads: ‘It is completely unacceptable that two or three French Air Traffic Controllers can simply decide to extend these recreational French ATC strikes without any notice and ruin the travel plans of thousands of EU passengers and their families over one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.’
The airline claimed that the EU President has ‘failed to take any action’ to reform the service and, as a result, EU passengers are ‘being held ransom’ by French ATC staff.
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Ryanair has called for two key reforms: ensuring that ATC services are fully staffed for the first wave of daily departures, and protecting overflights during national ATC strikes.
‘These two simple reforms would eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions,’ it claimed.
French air traffic controllers began striking on July 3, citing staff shortages and ageing equipment. The French Civil Aviation Authority requested that airlines reduce flights by 25% at Paris airports, with further cuts of 30-50% at airports in Bastia, Calvi, Nice, Montpellier, Ajaccio, Figari, Lyon and Marseille.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said at the time: ‘Once again European families are held to ransom by French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike.’
He also pointed out that flights travelling to other destination over French airspace will be affected, adding that it is ‘not acceptable’.
The boss continued: ‘It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays.’
EasyJet has also been affected by the strike. A spokesperson told Metro that flights were disrupted, adding that the airline is ‘extremely unhappy’.
‘Long-term solutions must be found for our customers and crew who suffer repeated disruption,’ they said.
According to the airline, 22 UK flights were affected on July 3 and 38 on July 4.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warned travellers to check for updates before flying, especially if passing through France or connecting elsewhere in Europe.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, UK and EU airlines must look after you if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
This includes everything from meals and accommodation to an alternative flight if necessary.
Citizen’s Advice says that airlines should also give impacted passengers access to phone calls and emails and, if they offer you a play to stay, organise the journeys between the hotel and the airport.
Sometimes, the airline will cover this by handing you vouchers at the airport. When in doubt, keep any receipts for expenses and claim them back afterwards from the airliner.
But an airline will only cough up money for ‘reasonable’ expenses. The hotel minibar or penthouse suites likely can’t be expensed.
If you didn’t book with a UK or EU airline, you’ll need to check their terms and conditions. Though, for the most part, airlines should provide meals and accommodation as appropriate.
When am I eligible for this support?
Whether you’re eligible for the above depends on the distance of your flight and how long you have waited:
- For short-haul (up to 1,500km over two hours or less) you must have been waiting for two hours or more.
- For medium-haul (between 1,500km and 3,500km over two to four hours) it’s three hours or more.
- For long-haul (more than 3,500km over four hours or more) it’s four hours or more.
If my flight is cancelled, can I get a refund?
If your flight is covered by UK law, you can choose between either getting your cancelled flight refunded or being booked on an alternative route.
Any part of your ticket you haven’t used is eligible for a refund. So, if you were on a return flight to Heathrow and the outbound leg was cancelled, you can get that part of the journey refunded.
You’ll typically get your money back within a week.
But not everyone is up for being stuck mid-layover. If you still want to travel, your airline must find a way to get you to your destination.
This can include, say, if another airliner is flying to where you need to go soon or if there’s another form of transport you can take. All at no extra cost.
If my flight is delayed or cancelled, can I get extra compensation?
EU regulations state that airlines don’t have to pay out to passengers if the disruption was caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances’.
This includes ‘political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes’.
While official strikes by the airline’s own staff are classed as within the carrier’s control, air traffic control strikes are considered to be separate from this, and are therefore not usually eligible for compensation.
I booked a package holiday, what are my rights?
Check if the company you booked with is a member of ABTA, a trade association for tour operators and travel agents.
It has a guide here on what you can do if your flight has been cancelled.
What about unused accommodation?
There might be things you do end up paying for. But you might be able to claim for them afterwards.
This can include unused accommodation, where you’ll need to contact your credit card provider or a travel insurance firm.
As much as 94% of travel insurance policies travel abandonment, only 30% include wider travel disruption, according to analysts Defaqto.
Travel insurance doesn’t cover any loss of earnings if the delayed or cancelled flight means you can’t work.
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