News

EasyJet joins rivals in complaints over air traffic strikes

EasyJet plans to join rivals in taking a legal complaint to the European Commission over damaging air traffic control strikes.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren said he believed there was a case that EU law was being infringed by not adequately protecting flights over France as the Commission’s failure to tackle the issue is breaching freedom of movement for Europeans.

It comes after Ryanair and British Airways owner International Airlines Group recently revealed plans to join forces for a complaint to the Commission over its inaction over the strikes.

EasyJet cancelled 2,606 flights in the three months to June 30 mainly due to air traffic control strikes, which sent costs up by £25 million as it has had to compensate customers.

The budget carrier now expects costs for the full year to rise by around 3% as a result of the disruption, which has so far been greater than seen during the whole of 2017.

However, the airline raised profit forecast to between £550 million and £590 million despite a £25 million hit from the disruption.

Lundgrun told The Telegraph: “It’s been a challenging year so far and we estimate that this will not go away.”

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.