When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. Ryanair has warned of further flight cancellations thanks to the French air traffic control strikes. So far in 2018, there have been 24 strike days which has caused more than 5,000 flight cancellations, affecting millions of passengers. A further 100 flights will be cancelled this weekend by Ryanair due to the strikes. This follows from easyJet who announced 200 flights would be cancelled. Passengers are advised to check their flight before travelling to the airport.<doc-sep>Ryanair and EasyJet have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to yet another wave of French air strikes. Air traffic controllers have announced industrial action at Marseille Airport on Saturday and Sunday. As a result, EasyJet has had to cancel 208 flights passing through the air space while Ryanair has cut around 100 planned departures, with other airlines set to follow. Ryanair and easyJet have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend due to yet another wave of French air strikes Both budget airlines told MailOnline Travel that affected travellers have been informed about the disruption. British Airways has not indicated any flight cancellations yet and say they plan to operate a normal schedule. They have also been warned to check flight trackers for ongoing updates. These passengers will be able to transfer their flights free of charge or receive a refund. Ryanair and British Airways owner International Airlines Group said on Wednesday they will file a complaint to the EU over what they say is France's failure to tackle crippling strikes by air traffic controllers. Air traffic controllers have announced industrial action at Marseille Airport on Saturday and Sunday They say repeated strikes by French controllers, particularly in Marseille, are having a devastating impact on schedules, with more than 750,000 passengers having flights cancelled in the first five months of 2018 alone. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said passengers were being denied their right to free movement, which is enshrined in EU law. 'Both Ryanair and IAG plan to submit a complaint to the European Commission which will be against the French government because we believe that the French government is not adequately protecting the rights of Europeans to free movement,' Walsh told a news conference in Brussels. The overwhelming majority of passengers affected are not flying to or from France, he said, but travelling on routes which pass through French air space. Affected travellers have been informed about the disruption. They have also been warned to check flight trackers for ongoing updates The overwhelming majority of passengers affected are not flying to or from France but travelling on routes which pass through French air space This means that if French controllers are on strike, their flights have to take longer routes to avoid flying through. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's outspoken chief executive, said 2018 was on course to be the worst year ever for controller strikes, with 28 days lost already. 'You can't have the freedom of movement if a couple of hundred air traffic controllers in Marseille are going to shut down the skies over Europe on a regular basis,' he told reporters. You can't have the freedom of movement if a couple of hundred air traffic controllers in Marseille are going to shut down the skies over Europe on a regular basis Ryanair chief executive, Michael O'Leary The Marseille control zone is a particular problem because it covers part of the western Mediterranean that many flights from Barcelona and the Balearic Islands - major tourist destinations - pass through. Walsh and O'Leary said they were disappointed at the lack of action from the European Commission, the bloc's powerful executive arm. They called for air space above a certain height to be designated as European, so that planes flying over an area affected by a controller strike could be managed by authorities in neighbouring zones. The suggestion was originally tabled by the commission, they said, but has not been acted on yet. A French senate report this week said the country's air traffic control was responsible for a third of all aviation delays in Europe, according to Le Parisien newspaper. Between 2004 and 2016, French air traffic controllers were on strike for 254 days, vastly outstripping their closest rival Greece, where there were 46 days of stoppages and Italy with 37, according to the report seen by the daily.<doc-sep>Aer Lingus has had no cancellations but warned of 16 "flight disruptions" while Easyjet said 65% of its flights use French air space and may be delayed.<doc-sep>Fancy an escape? Sign up to the Chill newsletter for weekly inspiration and advice on UK holidays Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Disgruntled passengers whose flights have been disrupted or cancelled due to strike action have hit out at airlines, saying they never expected delays to be "this bad". Ryanair and easyJet customers face a weekend of travel chaos as up to 300 flights to and around France have been cancelled - and they're less than impressed, having branded the situation a "costly nightmare". One frustrated easyJet customer said their 10th anniversary honeymoon flight was delayed by 15 hours last night, with the replacement this morning cancelled. "@easyJet Off on a 10th anniversary delayed honeymoon. Starts with a 15-hour delay. Trying to be philosophical about it, but very little help or info from easyJet staff," Paul Binnion tweeted. (Image: PA) "After an hour of standing in a non-moving queue with no information or sign of easyJet staff give up and pay for a hotel. Then woken this morning by text telling me the replacement flight has been delayed. Starting to feel less philosophical about it now. "I understand these things happen, but poor communication from the easyJet staff about the situation hasn't helped." Another passenger said their rescheduled flight from last night has been delayed by two hours this morning, and is flying to Birmingham instead of Luton Airport. "Can understand cancellations happen, but never expected it to be this bad," Sam Turner said. "Woke up at 4am, missing breakfast, to make sure ready for 8:00am flight only to find out it’s delayed until 10:00am. Very little information from @easyJet. "Then had to ask/battle to get a voucher to cover half the price of a piece of toast and drink...Wait for the next episode." Another customer said her flight from France has been cancelled, with no replacement in time for her to get to work on Monday. Karen Mcloughlin tweeted: "@easyJet good evening, you’ve just cancelled my flight home from France tomorrow (and Sunday flights also cancelled) do you have any suggestions on how I can make it to work on Monday please? South of France to Scotland. Thanks!" She later added: "nothing at all available until Wednesday. Have now had to book a flight back to Edinburgh from Geneva and pay €80 for the train there from Nimes. Can you confirm you will cover this as per previous advice?" Ryanair passenger Ursula Lindo told Mirror Online finding out her flight had been cancelled on her birthday with no alternatives was "the worst thing I could imagine" and she was "in tears". "Me and 3 friends travelled to Toulouse, France, on Thursday June 21 in the evening from Stansted Airport with Ryanair. Our flight was delayed leaving the UK but was happy we reached our destination on time to collect our rental car," she said. "Friday afternoon the next day after arrival, is when we received an email saying the flight has been cancelled on Sunday 24. "It took us collectively four hours before we could find a route back home, and had a few of us break down in tears as we have responsibilities and commitments back home that we need to get back to. (Image: PA) "We now have to drop the car off at Toulouse airport,then catch a bus from Toulouse airport to Toulouse central bus station. Coach from there to Bordeaux (3hr journey) Sleep at an air bnb Sunday night and Fly from Bordeaux to Gatwick @ 11.55pm with British airways, which also means our return Stansted Express train tickets and now wasted and have to find our way home from Gatwick. "This nightmare is very costly and feels like we can't fully enjoy this short break which was supposed to my birthday treat away for the weekend. "Tears on my birthday should be of joy not stress. All I can think about now is getting back on UK soil." A Ryanair customer at Leeds Bradford Airport this morning said there are "no staff" available to give information about delays. "@LBIAirport@Ryanair flight to Palma delayed, no staff around or boards updated #customerservice," 'LK' tweeted. Another, Judy Condick, said "no one cares" about delays. She said: "Hate Ryanair Air!! No service or information re delays at Bristol Airport today. Hot, no A/C at departures. No one cares or is experienced enough to even say sorry. Never ever again!" Diane Jeantet said: "Saving a few bucks to fly w/ @Ryanair is certainly not worth the nightmares that ensue a flight cancelation. "A day after receiving cancelation notice for 2morrow, I still haven't been able to talk to anyone but am charged 0.34€/min to wait endlessly on the phone. Never-Again." EasyJet has announced more than 200 flights have been scrapped due to industrial action by air traffic controllers in Marseille on Saturday and Sunday. Likewise up to 100 flights by Ryanair have been cancelled , with widespread chaos expected for travellers. A spokesman for EasyJet said: “Due to local air traffic control industrial action from June 23-24 affecting Marseille airspace EasyJet, like all airlines, has been required to cancel 100 flights on Saturday 23 and 108 flights on Sunday June 24 which include flights to and from Marseille and some flights which pass through Marseille airspace which are unable to be rerouted. "easyJet will be doing everything possible to minimise the effects of the strike action for our customers and priority for cancellation has been given to those flights where passengers could find alternative options." (Image: Getty Images Europe) The airline says it has advised passengers of affected flights in advance by text and email and advises customers to check its website before travelling. Those on cancelled flights will be able to transfer free or charge, or get a refund. “Whilst this is outside of our control we would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience experienced as a result of this industrial action," the spokesman added.<doc-sep>
FRENCH strikes have caused easyJet and Ryanair to cancel hundreds of flights this weekend. The strike action by air traffic controllers in Marseilles on Saturday and Sunday is set to cause travel chaos for passengers. 2 Strike action by air traffic controllers in Marseilles on Saturday and Sunday is set to cause travel chaos for passengers Credit: Reuters EasyJet has had to cancel more than 200 flights across and in France over the weekend and Ryanair will have to cancel up to 100 flights, with other airlines likely to follow. An easyJet spokesperson said: "Due to local air traffic control industrial action from 23rd to 24th June affecting Marseille airspace, EasyJet, like all airlines has been required to cancel 100 flights on Saturday 23rd and 108 flights on Sunday 24th June. "[These] include flights to and from Marseille and some flights which pass through Marseille airspace which are unable to be rerouted. “EasyJet will be doing everything possible to minimise the effects of the strike action for our customers and priority for cancellation has been given to those flights where passengers could find alternative options." 2 EasyJet has had to cancel more than 200 flights across and in France over the weekend Credit: Reuters Meanwhile, Ryanair said: "Due to yet another French ATC strike, Ryanair regrets to inform customers that it has been forced to cancel a number of flights (we expect up to 100 flights) on Saturday and Sunday. "All affected customers have been contacted by email and text message and advised of their options: a full refund, rebooking on to the next available flight or transferring to an alternative flight." Just last week, the airline's Michael O’Leary called for “urgent” action against French air traffic control (ATC) strikes that could cause a “meltdown” this summer. The budget airline's CEO says thousands of flights and millions of passengers will be disrupted, particularly in the peak months of July and August, unless the ATC staffing crisis is addressed. Portraits of May, Trump and Macron burned in disputed Russian region of Crimea over Syria air strikes MOST READ IN TRAVEL SEA YOU THERE Seaside B&B beats posh Claridge’s in top hotels list and reveals its secret FERRIED AWAY Brits travelling to France must self-isolate on arrival due to Indian variant WALES I NEVER! Tiny Welsh hotel that beat Claridges to top Tripadvisor gong & how it did it SEAS THE DAY Cheap seaside hotel rooms in the UK this summer from £29 per stay ISLE BE BACK Canary, Balearic & Greek islands 'could be on green list if country is amber' PRICED UP How much do Covid tests cost to go on holiday? Airline & airport prices from £20 He said: "Many of these flights don’t even touch France, yet they will be disruptive because French ATC requires airlines to cancel overflights while they protect French domestic routes. French air traffic controllers are responsible for a third of the flight delays in Europe – costing airlines £260m a year. Their shocking record was detailed in a new report published by the finance committee of the Paris Senate this week. It revealed that air traffic controllers in France lost 254 days through strike action between 2004 and 2006. This compares to 46 days for Greece, 37 days for Italy, 10 for Portugal, four days for Germany, and none for the UK.