Ryanair cancels hundreds of flights as French ATC strikes

(Sharecast News) - Ryanair, Europe's largest low-cost airline, was forced to cancel a significant number of flights on Tuesday,as a result of ongoing strike action by air traffic control (ATC) workers in France. The walkouts had led to the cancellation of about 400 flights, according to the Irish carrier.

Chief executive officer Michael O'Leary said in a statement that the majority of the cancellations pertained to flights that were not destined for France itself, but rather involved routes from various countries such as the United Kingdom to Spain, Portugal to Germany, and Italy to Ireland, which overfly airspace controlled by French ATC.

O'Leary said the airline respected the right of French ATC workers to strike, but in his statement he said that the impact should primarily affect domestic flights within France or flights specifically heading to the country, rather than disrupting international routes.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.