Thousands of British travellers will be affected today (June 23) as BA, easyJet and Ryanair are among the major airlines to cancel services across Europe due to a walkout by French air traffic control (ATC) staff.
The industrial action is the 10th day of strikes to have been planned by the country’s ATC unions over the last three months with UK passengers notified of the changes to routes on Wednesday afternoon.
As a result easyJet has cancelled 60 flights, including 40 which pass through the UK.
In a statement on its website the low-cost airline said: “As the strike will affect all French airports we have taken the decision to proactively cancel a number of flights, allowing customers to reorganise their journeys. We are taking further steps to minimise the impact of the strike on our customers but may see delays during the day.
“Although this situation is outside our control we’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to your travel plans.”
Meanwhile, Ryanair has had to abandon 56 flights to and from France with 10 services to Luton, Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle affected.
BA has said it will use larger aircraft on routes that are operating to help accommodate more customers and will offer passengers travelling today the opportunity to re-schedule their flight.
“Unfortunately we will have to cancel some flights as a result of the strike action and other short-haul flights may also experience some disruption, given how many flights would normally use French airspace each day,” a BA spokesperson said.
“Any customer due to fly to or from any French airport as well as Madrid and Barcelona on Thursday 23 June, regardless of whether their flight is operating or not can move their flight back to a date up to and including Tuesday 28 June. All re-bookings are subject to availability.
“We will be using larger aircraft, where possible, to help affected customers and are doing all we can to reduce the levels of disruption.”
