Ryanair Calls on EU Commission & French Govt to Stop ATC Strikes, As Thousands of Passengers Are hijacked by French ATC
Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (23 Oct) called on the EU Commission to prevent thousands of Europe’s citizens having their flights cancelled or delayed by tiny numbers of French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike again this week. Ryanair condemned the EU Commission’s continuing failure to act on its repeated call for the removal of the right to strike from Europe’s air traffic controllers, who repeatedly blackmail Europe’s passengers with strikes throughout the year.
Ryanair pointed out that many of Europe’s police forces and army personnel are not allowed to strike. Air traffic controllers in the USA are also prevented by law from striking, which means that the skies over the US cannot be closed or hijacked by ATC strikes or work to rule. The European Commission should apply similar no strike rules here in Europe and the French Govt should take action to prevent further damage to its country’s reputation and economy.
Ryanair confirmed that today’s French Air Traffic Control strike caused Ryanair four flights to be cancelled so far, with other flights to, from and over France, delayed by up to three hours, resulting in Ryanair passengers having their flights disrupted through no fault of theirs or Ryanair.
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
“It is unacceptable that the skies over Europe are repeatedly closed or that flights are delayed by the unjustified strike action of tiny numbers of air traffic controllers. These public servants are among the most overpaid and protected in Europe and yet they repeatedly opt for the strike weapon as a first, rather than a last resort.
It is hard enough that airlines and passengers have to contend with the winter weather without the French Air Traffic Controllers engaging in three days of strike action. The solution to this problem is simple: remove their right to strike in exactly the same way that Air Traffic Controllers in the USA are prevented by law from striking
The EU Commission should stop talking about taking action and finally do something about these repeated and unacceptable strikes by removing the right to strike from ATC unions while the French Govt should move to prevent further damage to its country’s reputation and economy.”
Source and photo: Ryanair
