Sunday, December 22, 2024

easyjet, Ryanair and Wizz Air forced to cancel flights over summer holidays

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For those who are looking to get away this summer, you might want to check your flights haven’t been cancelled.

Budget airlines easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have cancelled more than 100 flights during the summer months.

Those who are travelling with easyJet are the most affected with the airline cancelling 96 flights.

The halts are due to a no-fly zone covering 28,922 square miles. This has been ordered by the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), the French civil aviation authority.

This will take place in the afternoon and evening of Friday, July 26, which for many families across the UK is the start of their summer holidays.

The plans have been brought in to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and the increased measures in case of a terrorist attack.

The DGAC said the operation was the “creation of a temporary prohibited zone (ZIT) for the specific aviation security system, linked to the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games”.

This means that some French airports will be unable to accept passenger arrivals which will also affect those who are planning to depart.

However, it will not only affect those who plan to travel in and out of France. Those who are flying over the country will also be affected too.

Paris’s two main airports – Charles de Gaulle and Orly – are set to have major disruptions and face problems.

It will see flights to Paris be stopped from 5.30pm local time. Meanwhile, those flying from Charles de Gaulle will start again at 11.30pm local time but only with special approval.

This is according to The International Ops Bulletin, which is a membership organisation for people involved in international flight operations.

It comes as easyJet have already cancelled close to 100 flights affecting around 18,000 people.

An easyJet spokesperson told The Independent: “Like all airlines operating to and from Paris, easyJet has been requested to reduce its flying programme for the duration of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on Friday 26 July 2024.

“This resulted in the cancellation of 96 flights at both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly.”

But that’s not all as Ryanair is also facing problems.

The airline is the largest operator at Beauvais and flies to four UK airports including Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester.

Those travelling have been warned about potential cancellations and “advised of their options”.

A spokesperson said: “Due to the closure of the Paris airspace on 26 July, we, like all airlines, have been forced to cancel/reschedule a number of flights operating to/from Beauvais airport that day. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this Paris airspace closure, which is entirely beyond airlines’ control.”

Wizz Air is also said to be affected. Despite, the airline saying they were only expecting minor delays with two flights cancelled so far.

Passengers have been advised flying on July 26 to keep checking their flight status and expect delays at the airport.

It remains unknown if other airlines will also be affected by the disruptions.

The Daily Express has contacted British Airways for comment.

Do you have any flights booked over the summer holidays?

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