WITH Spanish air traffic controllers preparing for partial strikes on July 11-12 and 25-26, and French controllers on the picket lines for 48 hours starting tomorrow (Thursday July 2), Ryanair has called for a European ban on air traffic control strikes.
The budget airline has launched a petition, called Keep Europe’s Skies Open, which is says it will submit to the European Commission if it reaches one million signatures. It calls for a ban on strikes, or for air traffic controllers from other countries to be drafted in to cover those on strike.
The French strike, involving around half of the air traffic control staff in the country, is likely not just to cause disruption for travellers to and from France, but also those flying to Spain and other European destinations over French air space. The union is protesting an increase in the pension age for their workers.
