France: Four airlines submit complaint over strikes

Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz Air and IAG submitted complaints to the EC against France Tuesday, arguing that its air traffic controllers’ strikes were restricting freedom of movement within the EU. European airlines have faced an increasing threat to profits this year from the cost of flight cancellations associated with air traffic control (ATC) strikes. The four airlines said they believed France was breaking EU law by not enabling flights over the country during strikes, meaning passengers flying between member states not affected by the action are being denied their freedom to travel. “The right to strike needs to be balanced against freedom of movement. Passengers on routes that overfly France, especially the large airspace that covers Marseille and the Mediterranean, are also subject to delays and massive disruptions,” IAG CE Willie Walsh said in a joint statement by the four. BA-owner IAG said last month that it was spending more on fuel to travel via alternative routes to bypass French airspace, describing the strikes as more of a threat to European airlines this year than a rise in fuel prices.<br/>