Irish airline Ryanair on Sunday called on the European Commission “to take urgent action to protect overflights and the freedom of movement of European Union citizens during the strike by French air traffic controllers” on Monday. Several unions intend to protest against the recent adoption by Parliament of a bill aimed at forcing air traffic controllers to individually declare themselves on strike or not 48 hours in advance.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) therefore asked airlines on Thursday to give up 20% to 25% of their flight schedule to Paris Orly, Toulouse Blagnac, Bordeaux Mérignac and Marseille Provence on Monday. She also warned that the activity of Air Navigation En Route Centers (CRNA), which manage the trajectories of aircraft flying over the territory, will be affected, potentially forcing flights to bypass France.
” It is unfair “
Given the geographical position of France, the multiple days of strike by French air traffic controllers since the start of the year have forced “airlines to cancel thousands of flights over the EU from Germany, Spain , Italy, Ireland and the United Kingdom, while France in particular uses minimum service laws to protect French flights,” Ryanair said in a statement.
” It is unfair. France (and all other EU states) should protect overflights during air traffic controller strikes as is the case in Spain, Italy and Greece, and cancel flights to/from the affected state. , adds the Irish low-cost airline, first in Europe in terms of number of passengers transported.
Ryanair, which regularly targets French air traffic control, had already launched a similar appeal to the European Commission at the start of the year. The DGAC clarified to AFP on Sunday that at this stage, the social movement was “only for Monday”. The national union of air traffic controllers (SNCTA), the majority union in the sector, has not called a strike.