Four of Europe’s biggest airlines have submitted formal complaints to the European Commission demanding action to restrict the impact of strikes by French air traffic controllers.
British Airways-owner IAG joined Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air in making the complaints on Tuesday, along with representatives of the European travel agents’ and tour operators’ association (ECTAA) and hospitality association HOTREC.
The carriers, members of the Airlines for Europe (A4E) association, said “millions of passengers” suffered delays and cancellations in the first half of 2018 due to 22 days of strikes by air traffic controllers in France.
They claim the number of strikes this year is already 300% up on 2017 and argue: “France is breaking EU law by not enabling flights over the country during strikes.
“Passengers are being denied their fundamental freedom to travel between member states not affected by strike action.”
The carriers insist they “are not questioning the right to strike”. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: “The right to strike needs to be balanced against freedom of movement.”
Walsh said: “It’s not only customers flying in and out of France who are affected.
“Passengers on routes that overfly France, especially the large airspace that covers Marseille and the Mediterranean, are also subject to delays and disruption.”
The airlines suggest there is a precedent for EC action, pointing out Spain complained to the EC in 1997 after French farmers blocked fruit and vegetable exports and the European Court ruled French authorities had failed to ensure the free movement of goods.
A4E managing director Thomas Reynaert said: “2018 is shaping up to be one of the worst years ever for air traffic control [ATC] strikes in Europe.
“We stand with Europe’s tourism industry in calling on [the] authorities to take immediate action to improve the situation.”
ECTAA president Pawel Niewiadomski said: “ATC strikes cause major delays for millions of holidaymakers in the busiest tourist season.”
HOTREC president Susanne Kraus-Winkler added: “Travel disruptions caused by ATC strikes have a cascading effect on all other services.
“Flight delays or cancellations lead to lost accommodation, missed cruise connections and attractions. Our customers are ultimately paying for the strikes with lost enjoyment.”
ECTAA and HOTREC are members of the Network for the European Private Sector in Tourism (NET) whose members also include cruise operators’ association CLIA Europe and the European Tour Operators’ Association (ETOA).
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “We fully respect the right to strike and have been in constructive dialogue with the EU and French government to address the issue of ATC strikes. Unfortunately, our passengers have felt little progress so far.”
Wizz Air chief executive József Váradi added: “Addressing this issue must be a priority for European authorities.”
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary also complained about understaffing, saying: “Europe’s ATC providers are reaching the point of meltdown, with hundreds of flights cancelled and delayed daily either because of strikes or because Europe’s ATC don’t have enough staff.”
O’Leary said: “When Greece and Italy have strikes, overflights continue as normal. Why won’t France do the same?”
He added: “ATC providers, especially in Germany and the UK, are hiding behind adverse weather and ‘capacity restrictions’ when they are not rostering enough air traffic controllers to cater for the flights scheduled.
“These disruptions are unacceptable. We call on Europe’s governments and the Commission to take urgent and decisive action.”
A4E wants a mandatory 72-hour notification period imposed ahead of strikes and the protection of overflights.
It is also demanding ATC providers increase staffing levels and invest in technology to cope with increasing traffic.
Air France-KLM and Lufthansa were among leading A4E members absent from the statement of complaint to the EC.
More: IAG and Ryanair bosses file complaint against air traffic strikes