Ryanair urges France to reform air traffic control after Senate warning
Official report warns that France may struggle to handle growing air traffic
The report examined the performance of France's air traffic control service
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Ryanair has called on the French government to speed up reforms to the country's air traffic control system after a Senate report warned that, without further action, France could become one of the main causes of flight delays across Europe.
The airline said the report shows the need to recruit more air traffic controllers, shorten training times and modernise the Direction des services de la navigation aérienne (DSNA) to cope with growing demand.
The report, prepared by Senator Vincent Capo-Canellas, examined the performance of France's air traffic control service.
While it noted that DSNA’s performance improved by 40% during the first five months of 2026, following the ‘black year’ of 2025, it said that the peak summer months are going to be the real test of whether these improvements can last.
Eurocontrol warns of future delays
The Senate report also includes predictions from Eurocontrol (a European organisation for the safety of air navigation) which warn that by 2030, French air traffic control may no longer be able to handle all expected flights unless action is taken, meaning that “a proportion of flights would inevitably and structurally have to be cancelled.”
According to Eurocontrol’s projections, delays caused by French air traffic control could cost airlines €1.3 billion a year by 2030, rising to €1.7 billion annually by 2035.
Additionally, average delays could reach almost four minutes per flight, while DSNA itself could lose around €120 million a year in air navigation charges because it would be handling fewer flights.
Eurocontrol attributes this projected deterioration to a combination of controller shortages, limited flexibility in work organisation and continued growth in air traffic.
It also warns that 30% of French air traffic controllers are expected to retire between 2029 and 2035.
Responding to the report, Ryanair renewed its calls for reforms to France's air traffic control system.
"The French government must now act. DSNA needs uncapped controller recruitment to 2030, shorter training times, better rostering, improved productivity and a dedicated budget that ensures ATC [Air Traffic Control] charges are reinvested in modern systems and capacity," said Neal McMahon, Ryanair chief operations officer.
Mr McMahon said the report confirmed "what airlines and passengers have known for years", adding that "without urgent reform, France will no longer be able to handle flight demand by 2030."
The airline also repeated its long-standing call for flights simply passing through French airspace to be protected during French air traffic control strikes, arguing that passengers travelling between two non-French destinations should not face delays or cancellations because of strikes in France.
