The British airline Easyjet canceled around 1,700 flights until the end of the summer due to air traffic control restrictions in Europe. The cancellations mainly concern flights to and from London Gatwick Airport.

“The whole industry is experiencing difficult conditions this summer with more restricted airspace due to the war in Ukraine (…) and possible new strikes” by air traffic controllers, the company said in a statement sent to AFP.

“As a result, we have made some proactive adjustments to our schedule,” but these are minor modifications, the company notes, while “more than 90,000 flights” will be made by Easyjet during this period.

The company clarifies that 95% of interested customers are already booked on another flight.

Easyjet did not name the French air traffic controllers, but strikes since those last months over pension reform have caused discomfort for companies that are often forced to bypass the country, the head of the International Air Transport Association said in June ( IATA), Willie Walsh.

Easyjet flight cancellations are not related to pilot or crew shortages, according to the company.

Staff shortages in the industry have resulted in scenes of chaos at UK airports, endless queues and many canceled flights in the last year before the summer peak season.