Europe: IAG and Ryanair plan EU legal challenge over air traffic strikes

IAG and Ryanair are preparing a complaint to the EC over air traffic control strikes which have led to 5,000 flight cancellations so far this year. The two airlines claim that the commission’s failure to deal with strikes in countries such as France was breaching Europeans’ freedom of movement, one of the EU’s four fundamental freedoms. IAG’s low-cost Vueling airline, based in Spain, has had 50% of its flights affected by strikes. IAG and Ryanair’s complaint will argue that EU law is infringed by not adequately protecting flights over France. Willie Walsh, CE of IAG, said: “They are destroying European air traffic and having a huge impact on consumers . . . It’s a political problem that needs to be addressed by politicians, it’s not an airlines problem.” Michael O’Leary, CE of Ryanair, criticised the “lethargy and inaction” of the commission and national governments. In Europe, air traffic control is managed on a national level. “Nothing will get in the way of the four freedoms, unless you’re a French air traffic controller,” he said.<br/>