Ryanair is demanding the European Commission impose a US-style ‘no strike’ rule on air traffic controllers in Europe.
The call came as three days of industrial action by French controllers, which caused multiple flights delays and cancellations, came to an end this morning.
The Irish budget carrier was forced to cancel 134 flights on Monday and had a further 450 services delayed affecting 88,000 passengers due to the action.
The airline condemned Europe’s air traffic controllers for “repeatedly blackmailing” 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.
A spokesman said: “The solution to this problem is simple – remove their right to strike in exactly the same way that air traffic controllers in the US 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.”
He said it was “unacceptable that the skies over Europe are repeatedly closed or flights delayed by the unjustified strike action of tiny numbers of air traffic controllers”.
The spokesman added: “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.”