Thousands of passengers are set to face even more chaos this year, as French air traffic control strikes lead to mass cancellations for UK carriers.
Up to 80,000 Rynair passengers will bear the brunt, with the Irish budget carrier announcing 420 flight cancellations.
According to the BBC, EasyJet has cut 76 flights and British Airways has cut 22, while Air France said it would only run 45% of its short-haul flights.
In response to the strikes, Ryanair’s operations director Neal McMahon said: “Ryanair sincerely apologises to its customers for these unnecessary disruptions that this French ATC (air traffic control) strike will cause them… It is inexcusable that passengers who are not even flying to or from France are disrupted."
McMahon continued: “It is time that the EU step in and protect overflights so that European passengers are not repeatedly held to ransom by a tiny French ATC union.”
The strikes being conducted by the Syndicat national des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aériens (SNCTA) union follow months of negotiations on recruitment and salaries in the face of spiralling inflation.
“After several months of discussions and despite the 14 days left to reconcile this strike notice, no concrete element or guarantee has been provided by the DGAC (Directorate General for Civil Aviation) and the public authorities,” said the union.
The SNCTA worries that 1,200 ATCs retiring and a five-year training window for new recruits will “degrade considerably the level of public service rendered”.
Monday Heathrow disruption inevitable
Heathrow has confirmed that its flight schedule will be altered on Monday September 19 as the UK prepares for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
All take-offs and landings will be delayed for 15 minutes before and after the two-minute silence at the end of the funeral, and during the ceremonial procession at Windsor Castle.
Departures will also be reduced between 16:45 BST and 21:00 BST to support the committal service at St George's Chapel.