Ryanair has called on the European Union Commission to prevent French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike this week.

Ryanair condemned the EU Commission’s continuing failure to act on its repeated call for the removal of the right to strike from Europe’s air traffic controllers.

The carrier argues air traffic controllers “repeatedly blackmail” Europe’s passengers with strikes throughout the summer season.

Ryanair pointed out that many of Europe’s police forces and army personnel are not allowed to strike.

Air traffic controllers in the USA are also prevented by law from striking, which means that the skies over the US cannot be closed or “hijacked” by air traffic strikes or work to rule, Ryanair added.

Ryanair confirmed that yesterday’s French Air Traffic Control strike caused 134 flights to be cancelled, with a further 450 flights delayed, resulting in 88,000 Ryanair passengers having their flights disrupted on Monday through no fault of theirs or Ryanair.

Ryanair spokesperson Stephen McNamara said: “It is unacceptable that the skies over Europe are repeatedly closed or flights delayed by the unjustified strike action of tiny numbers of air traffic controllers.

“These public servants are among the most overpaid and protected in Europe and yet they repeatedly opt for the strike weapon as a first, rather than a last resort.

“The summer schedules in Europe are barely one week old and already the French Air Traffic Controllers are engaged in three days of strikes.

“The solution to this problem is simple, remove their right to strike in exactly the same way that Air Traffic Controllers in the USA are prevented by law from striking

“The EU Commission should stop talking about taking action and finally do something about these repeated and unacceptable strikes by removing the right to strike from ATC unions.”