RYANAIR CALLS ON EU COMMISSION TO STOP ATC STRIKES

RNS Number : 7236A

Ryanair Holdings PLC

03 April 2012

 



RYANAIR CALLS ON EU COMMISSION TO STOP ATC STRIKES, AS THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS ARE HIJACKED BY FRENCH ATC STRIKES.

Ryanair, Europe's favourite airline today (3 April) called on the EU Commission to prevent millions of Europe's citizens having their flights cancelled or delayed, by tiny numbers of French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike again this week.  Ryanair condemned the EU Commission's continuing failure to act on its repeated call for the removal of the right to strike from Europe's air traffic controllers, who repeatedly blackmail Europe's passengers with strikes throughout the summer season.  Ryanair pointed out that many of Europe's police forces and army personnel are not allowed to strike.  Air traffic controllers in the USA are also prevented by law from striking, which means that the skies over the US cannot be closed or hijacked by ATC strikes or work to rule.  The European Commission should apply similar no strike rules here in Europe.

Ryanair confirmed that yesterday's French Air Traffic Control strike caused 134 flights to be cancelled, with a further 450 flights delayed, resulting in 88,000 Ryanair passengers having their flights disrupted on Monday through no fault of theirs or Ryanair.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:

"It is unacceptable that the skies over Europe are repeatedly closed or flights delayed by the unjustified strike action of tiny numbers of air traffic controllers.  These public servants are among the most overpaid and protected in Europe and yet they repeatedly opt for the strike weapon as a first, rather than a last resort.  The summer schedules in Europe are barely one week old and already the French Air Traffic Controllers are engaged in three days of strikes.  The solution to this problem is simple, remove their right to strike in exactly the same way that Air Traffic Controllers in the USA are prevented by law from striking

"The EU Commission should stop talking about taking action and finally do something about these repeated and unacceptable strikes by removing the right to strike from ATC unions".

For further information please contact:                      

                                                Stephen McNamara              Joe Carmody

                                                Ryanair Ltd                            Edelman

                                                Tel: [phone]              Tel. [phone]

 

END

 

 

MSCIJMMTMBAMBRT