French strikers are restricting EU freedom of movement, fearful airlines tell Brussels

FOUR of Europe’s biggest airlines have joined forces in a fight against striking French air traffic controllers, demanding European authorities step in and help a sector that is “on the point of meltdown”.

International Airlines Group (IAG), the British Airways owner, Ryanair, easyjet and Wizz Air yesterday submitted complaints to the European Commission. French industrial action restricts the fundamental principle of freedom of movement within the EU, the airline quartet claim. Strike action has risen by 300pc compared with 2017. There has been more disruption in 2018 so far than during the whole of 2017, the airlines said. Unlike other European countries such as Italy and Greece, French action prevents airlines from flying through the country’s airspace en route to other destinations.

The four carriers are calling on Brussels to force France to implement minimum service levels that would enable them to pass through its airspace during industrial action.

While major airlines have so far lobbied behind the scenes, the lack of progress prompted yesterday’s united approach. Willie Walsh, the IAG chief executive, said: “It’s not only customers flying in and out of France who are affected during French air traffic controller strikes.”

Air traffic controllers have this summer walked out as part of a dispute over staffing and pay.

Michael O’leary, Ryanair’s chief executive said: “Europe’s ATC [air traffic control] providers are reaching the point of meltdown with hundreds of flights being cancelled and delayed daily either because of ATC strikes or because Europe’s ATC do not have enough staff.”