Four European carriers are claiming France is violating EU law since strike by its air traffic controllers are limiting the freedom of travel.

Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz Air and IAG, the owner of BA and Iberia, are presenting their objection to the EU Commission.

French air traffic controllers have arranged a progression of strikes this year over the administration’s monetary changes.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said: “The right to strike needs to be balanced against freedom of movement.”

“Passengers on routes that overfly France, especially the large airspace that covers Marseille and the Mediterranean, are also subject to delays and massive disruptions,”

The airliners argued that France is violating EU law by not permitting flights over the nation amid strikes, which means travelers flying between member states not influenced by the strikes are being denied their freedom to move.

Increasing fuel prices

IAG said that the strikes additionally increased fuel prices in view of the need to take longer courses to bypass the French airspace.

Easyjet said its expenses for the entire year would ascend around 3% because of the disturbance, which has so far been more prominent than amid the whole of 2017.

Earlier in the month, Ryanair said 1,100 flights were cancelled in May because of the strikes, despite the fact that its own staff shortages in the UK, Germany and France had additionally added to cancellations.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “We call on Europe’s governments and the EU Commission to take urgent and decisive action to ensure that ATC providers are fully staffed and that overflights are not affected when national strikes take place.”