by Skycop team
In 2025, Europe continues to see frequent labour actions across the aviation sector, with air traffic control (ATC), ground handling and airline crews staging periodic strikes that disrupt schedules across multiple countries. As an example, airlines at the time warned that a planned French ATC action in October 2025 could have forced up to 600 flight cancellations per day, potentially affecting routes across Western Europe not only flights to and from France. Announcements like these are illustrative and may later be modified, called off, or proceed in limited form.
Care & assistance during strikes
Struck by a strike? If the wait is longer than 2 hours, demand care from the airline’s personnel. Your airline should provide you with free e-mail or free fax, two free phone calls, meals & drinks – ask their local staff. If it goes overnight, it should ensure accommodation at a hotel as well as the transport to the hotel and back to the airport. If you believe you’re eligible to claim compensation for a disruption not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you can explore Flight Compensation options and get compensation.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
When compensation applies
Flight disruptions due to strikes are not all treated the same under EU law. Under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and EU Court of Justice case law, strikes by an airline’s own staff are generally not “extraordinary circumstances,” so compensation can be due; by contrast, ATC or airport-staff strikes are typically considered extraordinary, which means compensation is usually not owed (but care, rerouting, or refund still apply). This distinction is central to assessing Airline Strike Compensation within the EU framework.
Cancelled Flight Compensation
Statistically, French and Italian ATCs are the most likely to strike. But even in the case of such cancellations, you should still be offered either rerouting or a refund. If the rerouting takes you to an airport other than the original destination of the cancelled flight, the airline has to provide transportation to take you where you are intended to go. Where extraordinary circumstances do not apply, passengers may review eligibility for Cancelled Flight Compensation under the current rules.
Case in point
As an illustration from October 2025, Brussels Airport announced it would cancel all departing flights on 14 October 2025 for safety and operational reasons. In such cases, passengers should expect refunds or rebooking, even if compensation isn’t payable because the strike is outside the airline’s control. If your itinerary falls outside extraordinary circumstances, you can check whether you can claim compensation or get compensation – claim now if eligible. Note: announcements of this kind may be adjusted later depending on negotiations and operational measures.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
Looking ahead
EU institutions are also working on updates to clarify passenger rights (e.g., delay-thresholds and definitions). As of mid-2025, the Council set its position on “clearer and improved rules,” but changes still need to pass the full legislative process before taking effect. For now, rely on the current EU261 framework and court precedents above. For UK departures and arrivals, review UK 261 Flight Compensation to understand parallel post-Brexit rules.
