Ryanair launches petition against French ATC strikes

The low-cost airline Ryanair has started a petition with the aim of urging the EU Commission to act on regular strikes by French air traffic controllers. The Lowcoster accuses the committee around Ursula von der Leyen of "inactivity".

Eddie Wilson, Managing Director of Ryanair DAC said: “While we respect the right to strike, it is totally unacceptable that European passenger flights overflying France are repeatedly delayed or canceled by French air traffic control strikes. So far in 2023, more than 1.000.000 EU passengers have suffered unnecessary delays and cancellations due to 14 different strikes by French air traffic control, without Ursula von der Leyen's Commission doing anything to protect them. It's just not fair that flights to and from France are protected by minimum service laws. Despite multiple unanswered calls for the EU Commission to protect passenger flights by keeping EU airspace open during French air traffic control strikes, Ryanair has launched an EU-wide petition entitled PROTECT PASSENGERS – KEEP EU SKIES OPEN”, asking passengers to support our call for the European Commission to take action to protect Europeans and their families and their travel plans during the French air traffic control strikes, which are now happening almost weekly. If the EU doesn't listen to its airlines, it might listen to the millions of European passengers."