Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has sounded the alarm over renewed strike threats by French air-traffic controllers, arguing that walk-outs could again paralyse Europe’s skies unless staffing rules are reformed. Speaking on 24 January, O’Leary said French ATC actions accounted for 31 % of all European control-tower delays last summer and predicted a repeat “unless Brussels intervenes”.
While the dispute originates in France, its impact is felt acutely in Central Europe. More than half of Prague Airport’s long-haul departures and a third of its intra-EU flights routings cross French airspace. During a two-day strike in July 2025, Smartwings and Ryanair together cancelled 46 Prague services and diverted eight others, according to Eurocontrol data. Cargo carriers using the Prague–Liège corridor were forced to reroute through German and Swiss airspace, adding up to 40 minutes’ flying time.
In the meantime, travellers worried about being rerouted through additional countries can use VisaHQ’s Czech Republic platform (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) to double-check visa or transit requirements and secure documents at short notice, ensuring any last-minute itinerary changes caused by ATC disruptions don’t leave them stranded.
![Ryanair warns French ATC dispute could snarl Czech flight schedules this spring]()
O’Leary is calling for EU-level minimum-service guarantees and financial penalties for ATC providers that fail to staff morning peaks. Czech travel-management companies back the proposal, noting that even short ATC stoppages cascade through the day and spike hotel rebooking costs for corporate travellers. “A three-hour delay on the morning Prague–Paris rotation can knock out two onward connections to Chicago and Montreal,” says Lukáš Horák, operations director at UNIGLOBE Czechia.
If strikes proceed, Prague-based companies are advised to apply flexible booking policies, build longer layovers on westbound itineraries and encourage staff to travel with carry-on only to facilitate re-routing. Some are already shifting connecting traffic to northern corridors over Denmark and the UK, though this comes with higher over-flight fees and emissions.
The Czech Ministry of Transport told reporters it supports the European Commission’s plan for a Single European Sky reform, but admits little can be done unilaterally. Travellers should monitor airline alerts and ensure mobile numbers are lodged in booking profiles to receive real-time updates, officials said.
While the dispute originates in France, its impact is felt acutely in Central Europe. More than half of Prague Airport’s long-haul departures and a third of its intra-EU flights routings cross French airspace. During a two-day strike in July 2025, Smartwings and Ryanair together cancelled 46 Prague services and diverted eight others, according to Eurocontrol data. Cargo carriers using the Prague–Liège corridor were forced to reroute through German and Swiss airspace, adding up to 40 minutes’ flying time.
In the meantime, travellers worried about being rerouted through additional countries can use VisaHQ’s Czech Republic platform (https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/) to double-check visa or transit requirements and secure documents at short notice, ensuring any last-minute itinerary changes caused by ATC disruptions don’t leave them stranded.
O’Leary is calling for EU-level minimum-service guarantees and financial penalties for ATC providers that fail to staff morning peaks. Czech travel-management companies back the proposal, noting that even short ATC stoppages cascade through the day and spike hotel rebooking costs for corporate travellers. “A three-hour delay on the morning Prague–Paris rotation can knock out two onward connections to Chicago and Montreal,” says Lukáš Horák, operations director at UNIGLOBE Czechia.
If strikes proceed, Prague-based companies are advised to apply flexible booking policies, build longer layovers on westbound itineraries and encourage staff to travel with carry-on only to facilitate re-routing. Some are already shifting connecting traffic to northern corridors over Denmark and the UK, though this comes with higher over-flight fees and emissions.
The Czech Ministry of Transport told reporters it supports the European Commission’s plan for a Single European Sky reform, but admits little can be done unilaterally. Travellers should monitor airline alerts and ensure mobile numbers are lodged in booking profiles to receive real-time updates, officials said.
