Ryanair Calls on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Safeguard Overflights During French ATC Strikes, Warns of 125,000 Passenger Disruptions
Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, has issued a strong appeal to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to take immediate and decisive action to protect overflights during the upcoming French Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes scheduled for 17 and 18 September.
The airline, which operates an extensive network across Europe, warned that the two days of industrial action could force the cancellation of up to 700 flights that merely pass through French airspace, disrupting the travel plans of more than 125,000 passengers. Ryanair argues that these cancellations are unnecessary and preventable, had the European Commission acted in recent years to empower Eurocontrol—the pan-European air traffic management body—to manage overflights during national strikes.
Background: The Challenge of French ATC Strikes
Industrial action by French ATC workers has long been a recurring problem for European aviation. Because of France’s central geographic location, its airspace is a major corridor for flights connecting northern, southern, and western Europe. When French ATC staff go on strike, even flights that are not scheduled to land in France face cancellations or rerouting.
According to Ryanair, this systemic vulnerability undermines the principles of the European Single Aviation Market, which is supposed to guarantee seamless travel and connectivity across EU member states. The airline emphasizes that protecting overflights does not interfere with the right of French ATC workers to strike, but it does ensure that flights not directly connected to France can continue unhindered.
The Draghi Report and Calls for Reform
The issue of inefficiency and disruption in European air traffic management was highlighted in the Draghi Report, published in September 2024. The report underscored the multi-billion euro economic costs of delays, cancellations, and inefficiencies stemming from fragmented ATC systems across Europe.
Despite this, Ryanair and other airline members of Airlines for Europe (A4E) argue that the Commission has failed to implement meaningful reforms. Two specific measures have been repeatedly proposed by the industry:
- Ensuring full staffing of national ATC services during the critical morning departure wave, when most flights are scheduled to begin their journeys.
- Protecting overflights during national ATC strikes, allowing Eurocontrol to step in and manage upper airspace operations to prevent unnecessary cancellations.
Ryanair asserts that while both measures are straightforward, cost-effective, and widely supported by airlines, the Commission has failed to act.
Ryanair’s Position and Michael O’Leary’s Criticism
Ryanair’s outspoken CEO, Michael O’Leary, strongly criticized President von der Leyen’s handling of the issue, accusing her of a lack of leadership and political will. He highlighted what he described as her repeated inaction on the Draghi Report recommendations and her failure to prioritize efficiency and competitiveness within the EU aviation sector.
O’Leary stated:
“Europe’s airlines are united in calling for two simple reforms: staffing ATC providers properly for morning departures and protecting overflights during national strikes. Yet, President von der Leyen has done nothing. She speaks of efficiency and competitiveness but consistently fails to deliver. Now is the time to act. Eurocontrol must be authorized to manage overflights on 17 and 18 September, so that millions of European passengers are not punished because a small group of French air traffic controllers wish to go on strike.”
The Ryanair chief further argued that von der Leyen’s claim that ATC management is solely a “national competence” is incorrect. Overflights, he stressed, fall under the scope of the EU Single Market, which gives the European Commission both the authority and the responsibility to safeguard them.
The Wider Impact on European Competitiveness
Ryanair’s criticism extended beyond the specific issue of ATC strikes, reflecting broader concerns about the Commission’s handling of aviation policy under von der Leyen’s leadership. The airline accused her administration of:
- Presiding over the most inefficient ATC system in the world, marked by delays, fragmentation, and a lack of coordinated planning.
- Allowing environmental taxation imbalances, where European airlines face significant levies while non-European carriers are exempt, undermining competitiveness.
- Imposing what Ryanair describes as burdensome regulatory frameworks that hinder efficiency and raise costs for European carriers and consumers.
According to Ryanair, these shortcomings collectively erode the competitiveness of the European aviation sector and increase costs for passengers, making the EU a less attractive market compared to other global regions.
A Renewed Call for Action
The airline’s appeal is not merely a criticism of past failures but a renewed demand for urgent action. With the French ATC strikes looming, Ryanair insists that the Commission still has the ability to mitigate the worst impacts. Authorizing Eurocontrol to oversee overflights during the two strike days would, according to Ryanair, prevent the cancellation of hundreds of flights and spare more than 125,000 passengers from travel chaos.
O’Leary concluded with a sharp ultimatum directed at von der Leyen:
“If you are not prepared to protect Europe’s Single Market in aviation, then it is time to step aside and let someone who can deliver efficiency and competitiveness take over. The French can go on strike, but European passengers must not be held hostage to their disputes.”
Industry-Wide Support for Change
Ryanair is not alone in pressing for reforms. Airlines across Europe, through trade associations such as A4E, have long argued that the EU must move beyond fragmented, nationally controlled ATC systems and adopt a truly integrated Single European Sky framework. The lack of progress on this issue, they say, represents one of the most glaring failures of European policymaking in the transport sector.
By allowing individual national strikes to disrupt pan-European connectivity, the EU undermines the very foundation of the Single Market. For passengers, the consequences are all too familiar: cancelled holidays, missed business meetings, and costly delays that ripple through airports and airlines across the continent.
With travel demand continuing to grow, the importance of a resilient and efficient European aviation system is only becoming more urgent. The upcoming strikes on 17–18 September highlight once again the fragility of Europe’s current ATC structure and the high costs of political inaction.
Ryanair’s appeal to Ursula von der Leyen is framed as both a short-term call to mitigate immediate disruptions and a long-term demand for structural reform. Whether or not the Commission responds, the issue is unlikely to fade. Pressure from airlines, passengers, and industry stakeholders will only intensify as Europe seeks to remain competitive in a global aviation market.
The looming French ATC strikes have reignited debate over the governance of Europe’s skies. For Ryanair and its CEO Michael O’Leary, the situation represents yet another example of EU inefficiency and inaction under President von der Leyen’s leadership. With more than 125,000 passengers at risk of disruption, the stakes are high—not just for airlines and travelers but for the credibility of the European Single Market itself.
Ryanair’s message is blunt: protect overflights or step aside. The coming days will show whether the Commission is prepared to intervene decisively or allow yet another wave of cancellations to damage the confidence of Europe’s traveling public.