Airlines call for EU support against French air traffic strikes
European airlines have called for action from the EU against continued French air traffic control strikes as they prepare for the latest walkout starting this evening.
The latest strike is due to last for 36 hours, just 10 days after the previous disruptions which ran from March 20-22.
The strike will be the 43rd strike day in France since 2009.
Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: "The cynical targeting of Easter holidays by French air traffic controllers – with two strikes in 10 days – causes uncertainty and disruption for our customers and makes flight rebooking difficult as existing flights are already full.
"Flights to France and those which overfly the country are affected which, due to its size and geographic location, means major cancellations and delays."
Airlines for Europe – the new European airlines association launched in January – has called for the EU and key stakeholders to support an immediate action plan to minimise strike impact.
"Repeated and disproportionate industrial action by French ATC unions is seriously impacting the travel plans of thousands of passengers during Easter. It is unacceptable that airlines and their customers can be repeatedly punished by these unjustified strikes," said Thomas Reynaert, managing director of A4E.
Easyjet advised that cancellations and delays were likely due to the French general workers strike on Thursday.
It said it was working with other airlines through A4E to minimise the impact of ATC strikes on passengers.
A spokesman for Ryanair said: "This latest unjustified action shows that a tiny French union can yet again hold Europe’s single market (and open skies) to ransom while the French Government protects French domestic flights (via minimum service obligations) while thousands of flights from the UK, Ireland, Spain and Italy – none of which either take off or land in France – are cancelled, and hundreds of thousands of passengers’ travel plans are disrupted."
The airline is calling for Europe to introduce measures which would require French air traffic controllers to arbitrate rather than strike and allow Europe’s other air traffic controllers to operate flights over France white the French ATC unions are on strike.
Diane
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