Tourexpi
Ryanair,
Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (Thursday, 3 July) called on EU Commission
President Ursula von der Leyen to resign if she is unwilling to reform Europe’s
failed air traffic control (ATC) system, as French air traffic controllers go
on strike again on Thursday and Friday, 3–4 July. Von der Leyen has failed, in
six years of office, to take any action to reform Europe’s ATC system, which
continues to cause massive disruption to the EU’s single aviation market and
ruins the travel plans of thousands of EU citizens and their families every
summer.
Last
year’s Draghi Report called for competitiveness to be placed at the core of
European economic policy. Nothing illustrates the EU’s failure to deliver this
competitiveness more clearly than the annual summer “leisure strikes” of French
air traffic controllers. This week’s strike is particularly absurd: it is
allegedly in protest of “staff shortages” – yet the strike only worsens those
shortages. As usual, France’s minimum service laws prioritise domestic flights,
while a disproportionate number of overflights are cancelled. The European
Commission under Ursula von der Leyen has a duty to protect the single market
in aviation and keep the skies over France open, so that passengers and
families flying between countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK —
without landing in or departing from France — are not disrupted by unnecessary
ATC strikes.
Ursula
von der Leyen has now served six years as EU Commission President, and during
this time not a single step has been taken to reform Europe’s ATC system.
Ryanair has repeatedly called for two simple reforms: (1) ensuring full
staffing for the first wave of morning departures, and (2) protecting
overflights during national ATC strikes. Although von der Leyen publicly
supports the Draghi Report and the idea of "competitiveness", she
disappears every time a strike occurs. Europe would never tolerate regular
strikes blocking its waterways, railways, or road networks. And yet we allow a
small number of air traffic controllers in France, Germany, and Spain to block
our skies every summer with so-called leisure strikes that have little real
justification. It’s time for Ursula von der Leyen to either reform Europe’s ATC
system and ensure real competitiveness — or resign.
Michael
O’Leary of Ryanair said:
“Once
again, on Thursday and Friday this week, over 400 Ryanair flights and more than
70,000 passengers and their families will have their travel plans disrupted by
a small group of French air traffic controllers engaged in yet another ‘leisure
strike’. Over 350 of these flights are overflights, which could and should be
protected by the EU Commission. The absurd justification for this ATC strike is
alleged ‘understaffing’ — yet every year there’s a new excuse to strike. While
we respect the right to strike, Europe’s airlines have long demanded that
overflights be safeguarded. It is unacceptable that flights merely crossing
French airspace — and perfectly capable of operating — are being cancelled
simply because the EU Commission refuses to protect overflights or defend the
Single European Sky. This cannot continue.
Ursula
von der Leyen and her new Commission claim that competitiveness is now central
to Europe’s economic strategy. The Draghi Report last year highlighted the
urgent need for ATC reform — including better staffing and the protection of
overflights. Yet twelve months on, nothing has changed. Ursula von der Leyen
hides in her Brussels office while thousands of European citizens and families
suffer avoidable disruption to their holidays and travel plans.
If
Ursula von der Leyen is not willing to deliver competitiveness, protect the
single market, and safeguard overflights during national ATC strikes, then she
should resign and make way for someone who will implement the long-overdue ATC
reform and deliver the competitiveness that Europe’s economy and our airline
passengers urgently need. The aviation industry is fed up with Ursula von der
Leyen’s failure on ATC reform. If she won’t act, then she must go.”
Image Credit: ©
Ryanair
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