French controllers are undertaking their 38th day of action and Ryanair has condemned European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for allowing EU skies to be closed during strikes.
Ryanair said passengers “could easily be protected without impeding on French ATC unions’ right to strike”. The airline called for the protection of French overflights using minimum services laws as used in Greece, Italy and Spain.
It also suggested allowing other nations’ ATC to manage flights over France during strikes.
The airline said: “It is completely disproportionate and unfair that internal French flights are protected under Minimum Services Legislation but EU citizens/visitors’ overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland are cancelled.”
A Ryanair spokesperson added:
“Today, French ATC are striking for the 38th day in just three months, with thousands more EU passengers having their flights to see friends and family unfairly cancelled at short notice.”
Ryanair has launched a petition to demand action by the European Commission.
