Aviation executive of EasyJet expresses criticism towards French air traffic control strikes
In the midst of summer holiday season chaos, strikes by French air traffic controllers disrupted European skies, causing hundreds of thousands of flights to be cancelled and resulting in additional costs for the European airline industry. One airline that navigated these challenges with resilience is EasyJet.
According to the company's Q3 2025 report, the strikes cost EasyJet around £15 million in profits due to operational disruptions and cancellations. However, EasyJet managed to deliver a headline profit before tax of £286 million, marking a 21% year-on-year increase.
The strikes, combined with rising fuel costs, contributed to a total drag of £25 million on full-year earnings, impacting the airline's overall profitability. Despite these setbacks, EasyJet continues to maintain a positive outlook for fiscal 2025 due to strong demand and strategic progress.
The financial data provided is for the third quarter of EasyJet's operations. During this period, the airline's pre-tax profit increased by 21 percent to £286 million, while its revenue grew more than 10 percent to £2.9 billion.
EasyJet's financial performance was not significantly affected by the strikes, as it is still on track for good full-year profit growth. The airline's pre-tax profits grew in its third quarter, as stated in an earnings statement, despite no mention of this growth being directly attributed to the strikes.
The two-day airline stoppages resulted in unexpected and significant costs for all airlines. However, the specific impact on EasyJet's financials, apart from the £15 million loss, was not detailed in the Q3 report.
Despite these challenges, EasyJet's strong performance underscores its ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic industry. The airline's focus on cost efficiency, strategic growth, and customer satisfaction continues to set it apart in the competitive European airline market.
The airline industry in Europe faced additional financial burdens due to air traffic controller strikes, as EasyJet, in particular, recorded a £15 million loss in profits due to operational disruptions and cancellations. However, despite these setbacks, EasyJet's focus on cost efficiency, strategic growth, and customer satisfaction prevented a significant impact on its overall business and finance performance.
