Belgian ATC strike disrupts Ryanair (RYAAY) flights and 20,000 passengers

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ryanair Holdings plc filed a Form 6-K describing disruption from a sudden strike by Belgian air traffic controllers on 2 June 2026. The company says this action forced the short-notice cancellation of about 100 flights to and from Charleroi and Zaventem, affecting nearly 20,000 passengers.

Ryanair criticizes the lack of advance notice from controllers and argues that at least 24 hours’ warning is needed so airlines can reorganize schedules and reduce cancellations. The company also calls on the EU Commission to reform Europe’s air traffic control system to better protect passengers during such strikes.

Key Figures

Flights cancelled: 100 flights Passengers disrupted: 20,000 passengers Filing form: Form 6-K

3 metrics

Flights cancelled 100 flights Ryanair flights to/from Charleroi and Zaventem on 2 June 2026

Passengers disrupted 20,000 passengers Passengers affected by cancellations and delays on 2 June 2026

Filing form Form 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer for June 2026

Key Terms

Form 6-K, foreign private issuer, air traffic controllers, single market for air travel, +1 more

5 terms

Form 6-K regulatory

"SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FORM 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer"

A Form 6-K is a report that companies listed in certain countries file to provide important updates, such as financial results, corporate changes, or other significant information, to regulators and investors. It functions like an official company update or news release, helping investors stay informed about developments that could affect their investment decisions.

foreign private issuer regulatory

"FORM 6-K Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16"

A foreign private issuer is a company organized outside the United States that meets tests showing it is primarily foreign-controlled and therefore qualifies for a different set of U.S. reporting rules. For investors, that means the company files less frequent or differently formatted disclosures with U.S. regulators and may follow home-country accounting and governance practices, so buying its stock is like dining at a well-reviewed restaurant that follows its home kitchen’s rules instead of the local menu — you get access but should check what standards apply.

air traffic controllers technical

"strike by Belgian ATC controllers, which forced the cancellation"

Air traffic controllers are trained professionals who manage the safe and orderly movement of aircraft on the ground and in the sky, directing takeoffs, landings, and flight paths much like a traffic cop or orchestra conductor guiding vehicles or musicians. For investors, their role matters because controller availability, performance, or disruptions (for example due to staffing shortages, strikes, or regulatory changes) can directly affect airline schedules, airport throughput, costs, and revenue reliability across the aviation sector.

single market for air travel regulatory

"The EU Commission has a duty to protect the single market for air travel"

wildcat strike other

"condemned today’s wildcat strike by Belgian ATC controllers"

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Form 6-K: How Foreign Companies Report to the SEC →

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of June 2026

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office

Dublin Airport

County Dublin Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual

reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information

contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the

Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934.

Yes   No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant

in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________

RYANAIR CONDEMNS ILLEGAL WILDCAT STRIKE BY

BELGIAN ATC CONTROLLERS ON TUES, 2 JUNE

OVER 100 CHARLEROI FLIGHTS CANCELLED AT SHORT NOTICE DISRUPTING 20,000 PASSENGERS

Ryanair, Europe's No.1 airline, condemned today's (2 June) illegal wildcat strike by Belgian ATC controllers, which unfairly forced the short notice cancellation of 100 Ryanair flights to/from Charleroi and Zaventem Airports, disrupting almost 20,000 passengers.

It is unacceptable that passengers travelling to/from Belgium today (2 June) are suffering flight cancellations and delays as a result of a tiny number of Belgian air traffic controllers' decision to strike with zero notice given to airlines who pay millions of euros annually for ATC services, which have been withdrawn today without any prior notice. If Belgian ATC controllers must go on strike, they should provide fair and sufficient notice - at least 24 hours - so that airlines can reorganise flights and protect passengers - many of whom are travelling on holidays with young families - from unnecessary cancellations.  

The Draghi Report called on Europe to deliver competitiveness, but nothing highlights the failure of Europe competitiveness under "Useless Ursula" von der Leyen more than these latest ATC strikes. The EU Commission has a duty to protect the single market for air travel yet zero progress has been made. Every year ATC controllers hold European citizens to ransom, and "Useless Ursula" von der Leyen does nothing about it - except make speeches.

Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said:

"While we respect the right to strike, it is unacceptable that airlines were given zero notice of today's Belgian ATC strike. As a result, airlines were forced to cancel flights at short notice, unfairly impacting thousands of passengers travelling to/from Belgium - many of whom are now stranded at Charleroi and Zaventem Airports. There is no need for passengers to suffer short notice cancellations due to Belgian ATC strikes. If controllers must strike, they should provide fair notice to airlines, so we can reorganise schedules to minimise the impact of these ATC strikes on ordinary citizens who pay for these high priced but low service ATC.

It is unacceptable that European citizens are once again being held to ransom by a tiny number of ATC controllers engaging in recreational strikes without fair notice. Ryanair has repeatedly called on the EU Commission to reform Europe's broken ATC system to protect passengers from these ATC strikes, but "Useless Ursula" von der Leyen continues to sit on her hands doing nothing while a tiny number of European Air Traffic Controllers once again hold European citizens to ransom with today's zero notice strikes."

ENDS

For further info

please contact:               Ryanair Press Office

T: +353-1-9451799

E: press@ryanair.com

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC

Date: 02 June, 2026

By:___/s/ Juliusz Komorek____

Juliusz Komorek

Company Secretary

FAQ

What event does Ryanair (RYAAY) highlight in this Form 6-K?

Ryanair’s Form 6-K highlights disruption from a sudden strike by Belgian air traffic controllers on 2 June 2026. The company reports significant operational impact, including cancelled flights at Charleroi and Zaventem airports and stranded passengers, and uses the filing to criticize the lack of notice.

How many Ryanair flights were cancelled due to the Belgian ATC strike?

Ryanair reports that around 100 flights to and from Charleroi and Zaventem were cancelled at short notice. These cancellations are described as directly linked to the Belgian air traffic controllers’ strike and form the core operational impact discussed in the Form 6-K filing.

How many Ryanair passengers were affected by the Belgian ATC strike?

The filing states that almost 20,000 passengers were disrupted by the sudden cancellation of about 100 flights. Ryanair notes that many of these passengers were travelling on holidays with families, underscoring the customer impact of the short-notice air traffic control strike.

What changes does Ryanair (RYAAY) call for regarding ATC strikes in Europe?

Ryanair calls for at least 24 hours’ notice before any air traffic control strike so airlines can reorganize schedules. It also urges the EU Commission to reform Europe’s air traffic control system to better protect passengers and the single market for air travel.

Which airports were most affected by the Ryanair cancellations in Belgium?

Ryanair specifies that Charleroi and Zaventem airports in Belgium were most affected by the strike. The filing links roughly 100 cancelled flights and nearly 20,000 disrupted passengers to short-notice actions impacting services at these two key Belgian airports.