UK low fares airline EasyJet has cancelled 1,700 flights – or around 2% of its overall summer flight schedule – due to the persistent disruption being caused by air traffic controller (ATC) strikes across mainland Europe.
The move will affect around 180,000 passengers, but they will be reassigned to different routes by EasyJet. Most of the flight cuts will be from EasyJet’s operations at London’s Gatwick Airport.
The move shows how disruptive the ongoing ATC strikes are becoming, with EasyJet second only to Ryanair in the European low fares market.
EasyJet has a strong presence at both Belfast airports and recently secured 88 take-off and landing slots at Dublin Airport for the upcoming winter season.
Ryanair recently formally delivered a 1.1 million+ customer signature petition to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s office, in Brussels, demanding that the EU protect overflights and EU citizens’ freedom of movement during repeated ATC strikes.