Ryanair has condemned what it calls an 'illegal wildcat' strike by Belgian air traffic controllers that led to the cancellation of 100 flights on Tuesday, June 2. The budget airline said the walkout, which occurred with zero notice, disrupted the travel plans of nearly 20,000 passengers.
In a statement, Ryanair criticised the strike as 'unacceptable', noting that airlines pay millions of euros annually for air traffic control services. The carrier demanded that any future strike action be announced at least 24 hours in advance to allow airlines to reorganise flights and minimise disruption, particularly for families travelling on holiday.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said that while the airline respects the right to strike, it is unacceptable that airlines were given no warning. He called for fair notice to enable schedule adjustments and protect passengers from 'unnecessary cancellations'.
Separately, Ryanair warned that passengers could face further disruption on Wednesday, June 3, due to a general strike in Portugal. The airline said it expects to operate normally, but rival EasyJet has indicated possible delays. The Portuguese strike, the second in recent months, is in protest against proposed labour reforms.
