French Air Traffic Control Strike Cancels 1500 Flights, Disrupts 300,000 Passengers Across Europe

A two-day strike by French air traffic controllers has caused widespread disruption across Europe during the peak summer travel season, leading to the cancellation of over 1,500 flights and affecting nearly 300,000 passengers. The strike, driven by demands for better pay, increased staffing, and upgrades to outdated equipment, has led to significant flight reductions at major French airports including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Nice. Airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet have been severely impacted, with Ryanair canceling more than 400 flights and criticizing European authorities for not protecting overflights during national strikes. The strike has drawn condemnation from industry groups like Airlines for Europe, which called the disruptions unacceptable, while French authorities have ordered flight reductions of up to 50% and refused to meet union demands. Passengers flying over France but not stopping there have also suffered delays, prompting calls for European-wide measures to prevent strikes from affecting overflights. The situation remains unresolved, with French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot rejecting union demands and the strike continuing into the weekend.