Over 600,000 passengers have signed Ryanair's “Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open” petition calling on the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to protect European citizens’ Freedom of Movement and overflights during French ATC strikes.
The budget carrier where says that when the petition reaches 1 million signatures it will submit it to the EU Commission and demand action be taken.
The petition was started 5 weeks ago by the low-fare-high-fee airline from people it says are passengers that are sick and tired of having their travel plans cancelled at short notice due to French ATC strikes.
Ryanair contends that passengers' right to Freedom of Movement overshadows and overrules other citizens' rights to strike for fair pay.
In the first 4 months of 2023, there have been over 50 days of French ATC strikes during which Ryanair cancelled more than 3,700 flights.
The airline says France uses Minimum Service Legislation to protect French domestic flights, while EU overflights from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland are disproportionately cancelled. Ryanair says this is unfair and must change. Italy and Greece already protect overflights during ATC strikes and the EU Commission must now insist that France does likewise.
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "We are overwhelmed by the support for our Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition with over 600,000 signatures already from passengers calling on EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to take immediate action to protect their Freedom of Movement and overflights by keeping EU skies open during repeated French ATC strikes. We are rapidly approaching the 1 million signatures we need to force the EU Commission to take action to protect overflights and EU citizens’ Freedom of Movement.
French ATC strikes are the No.1 risk to EU citizens’ travel plans this Summer and passengers are really starting to understand that the EU Commission is doing nothing to mitigate that risk and protect their Freedom of Movement. EU citizens are now signing our petition to demand action from the EU Commission to protect them and their family’s travel plans this Summer. The EU’s Single Market for air travel should not be repeatedly disrupted by tiny French ATC unions because the EU Commission fails to take action. It’s time to protect overflights during French ATC strikes as Italy and Greece already do. If French ATC unions insist to strike (as is their right) then cancel French flights and protect overflights."
The next strike is on Monday, a bank holiday in the UK and Ryanair has cancelled more than 200 flights.