Ryanair calls on Ursula von der Leyen to resign if she fails to reform Europe’s air traffic control

International

Two-day French air traffic control strike (3–4 July) forces Ryanair to cancel 400 flights, disrupting over 70,000 passengers.

Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (Thursday, 3 July) called on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resign if she is unwilling to reform Europe’s failed air traffic control (ATC) system, as French air traffic controllers go on strike again on Thursday and Friday, 3–4 July. Von der Leyen has failed, in six years of office, to take any action to reform Europe’s ATC system, which continues to cause massive disruption to the EU’s single aviation market and ruins the travel plans of thousands of EU citizens and their families every summer.

Last year’s Draghi Report called for competitiveness to be placed at the core of European economic policy. Nothing illustrates the EU’s failure to deliver this competitiveness more clearly than the annual summer “leisure strikes” of French air traffic controllers. This week’s strike is particularly absurd: it is allegedly in protest of “staff shortages” – yet the strike only worsens those shortages. As usual, France’s minimum service laws prioritise domestic flights, while a disproportionate number of overflights are cancelled. The European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen has a duty to protect the single market in aviation and keep the skies over France open, so that passengers and families flying between countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK — without landing in or departing from France — are not disrupted by unnecessary ATC strikes.

Ursula von der Leyen has now served six years as EU Commission President, and during this time not a single step has been taken to reform Europe’s ATC system. Ryanair has repeatedly called for two simple reforms: (1) ensuring full staffing for the first wave of morning departures, and (2) protecting overflights during national ATC strikes. Although von der Leyen publicly supports the Draghi Report and the idea of "competitiveness", she disappears every time a strike occurs. Europe would never tolerate regular strikes blocking its waterways, railways, or road networks. And yet we allow a small number of air traffic controllers in France, Germany, and Spain to block our skies every summer with so-called leisure strikes that have little real justification. It’s time for Ursula von der Leyen to either reform Europe’s ATC system and ensure real competitiveness — or resign.

Michael O’Leary of Ryanair said:

“Once again, on Thursday and Friday this week, over 400 Ryanair flights and more than 70,000 passengers and their families will have their travel plans disrupted by a small group of French air traffic controllers engaged in yet another ‘leisure strike’. Over 350 of these flights are overflights, which could and should be protected by the EU Commission. The absurd justification for this ATC strike is alleged ‘understaffing’ — yet every year there’s a new excuse to strike. While we respect the right to strike, Europe’s airlines have long demanded that overflights be safeguarded. It is unacceptable that flights merely crossing French airspace — and perfectly capable of operating — are being cancelled simply because the EU Commission refuses to protect overflights or defend the Single European Sky. This cannot continue.

Ursula von der Leyen and her new Commission claim that competitiveness is now central to Europe’s economic strategy. The Draghi Report last year highlighted the urgent need for ATC reform — including better staffing and the protection of overflights. Yet twelve months on, nothing has changed. Ursula von der Leyen hides in her Brussels office while thousands of European citizens and families suffer avoidable disruption to their holidays and travel plans.

If Ursula von der Leyen is not willing to deliver competitiveness, protect the single market, and safeguard overflights during national ATC strikes, then she should resign and make way for someone who will implement the long-overdue ATC reform and deliver the competitiveness that Europe’s economy and our airline passengers urgently need. The aviation industry is fed up with Ursula von der Leyen’s failure on ATC reform. If she won’t act, then she must go.”