On Wednesday, Ryanair (RYA.I) delivered a petition signed by 1.1 million EU passengers to the European Commission urging that overflights be protected against air traffic control (ATC) strikes, notably in France.
CEO Michael O’Leary told reporters that local strikes disrupted and polluted flights traveling through French airspace.
Our flights are full for the June 6-7 French strike. Therefore we’re canceling. This is easily fixed. “Other member states have overflight laws,” O’Leary added.
Ryanair asked the Commission to preserve 100% of overflights, impose a 21-day strike notice and 72-hour notification of employee participation in ATC strikes, and more.
Europe’s largest airline said 57 days of ATC strikes prompted thousands of flight cancellations in the year’s first five months. Strikes increased ten times from 2022.
“France in particular uses minimum service laws to protect their domestic and short-haul flights while disproportionately cancelling overflights,” Ryanair stated.
“France…should follow Spain, Italy, and Greece.”
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