BREAKING: Flight chaos hits Budapest as French air traffic control strike grounds planes – tens of thousands left without flights
Tens of thousands of European travellers, including many in Hungary, are facing flight cancellations and delays due to a strike by French air traffic controllers. The industrial action, which began on 3 July and is expected to continue into Friday, has significantly impacted flights across Europe, including multiple departures and arrivals in Budapest.
Budapest flights cancelled
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) requested airlines to reduce their flight schedules in response to the strike, leading to widespread disruptions at major airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Orly (ORY), and Nice, the BBC reports.
Budapest is no exception: Wizz Air has cancelled its 3 July morning flight to Paris-Orly and evening service to Nice, along with their return legs. Air France has also scrapped its popular Paris-CDG to Budapest route for the evening of 3 July (AF1494/5), AIRportal.hu writes.
Passengers flying to or through France are being urged to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Budapest Airport’s website is regularly updated with real-time information on delays and cancellations.
Strikes trigger massive disruption
The disruption stems from a strike organised by French air traffic control union UNSA-ICNA, protesting over poor working conditions, staffing shortages, and a controversial new clock-in system, according to 444.hu. The DGAC has ordered a 25% flight reduction at Parisian airports, with some southern airports like Nice, Bastia, and Calvi seeing up to 50% of their flights grounded.
Low-cost carriers are among the hardest hit. Ryanair alone has cancelled over 170 flights, affecting more than 30,000 passengers across Europe. The airline warns that the strike is not just disrupting France-bound flights but also planes crossing French airspace en route to destinations such as Spain, the UK, Greece, and Ireland.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary condemned the strike, accusing air traffic controllers of “holding European families to ransom.” He called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to implement emergency measures to ensure minimum service levels during strikes and safeguard overflights through France.
Situation may worsen on Friday
Travel disruption is likely to intensify on Friday, with the DGAC warning of even greater flight reductions: up to 40% at Paris CDG, Orly, and Beauvais. Although participation in the strike is expected to decline slightly, passengers should prepare for additional delays and cancellations throughout the weekend.
A European problem, not just a French one
This latest wave of French air traffic control strikes has reignited criticism from across the aviation industry. Airlines for Europe (A4E), the continent’s largest airline association, labelled the disruption “intolerable,” especially during the busy summer holiday season, the BBC writes.
EasyJet and other carriers joined Ryanair in urging EU intervention to prevent domestic French strikes from paralysing continental air travel. While France grapples with its internal aviation workforce issues, thousands of travellers across Europe, including many departing or arriving in Budapest, are paying the price.
If you’re planning to travel by air this week, especially to or via France, check your flight status frequently and prepare for potential disruptions.
Read also: