Union Says EC 'Single European Sky' Action Putting Air Safety At Risk

The Air Traffic Controllers European Union Coordination (ATCEUC) called a two-day strike on Wednesday to send "a clear message to the European Commission (EC)" that the entire air traffic management system is "concerned about the EC's roadmap" for a Single European Sky.

"The path taken by the EC is putting [the] system at risk," the union said in a letter posted on its website. "After a long and disappointing process where unions and professional representatives have been constantly ignored, the promises made by the EC that our views and contributions would be taken on board have come to nothing, and after meetings, position papers and written statements to show our arguments defending a safer Air traffic Management System, we have arrived to this stage. This has been a long time consuming process after which we have come to the conclusion that our voices can only be heard this way. This has been our last resource, and if the EC continues to choose this path, we will be forced to continue to show our disapproval.

"ATCEUC strongly believes that the time to act has arrived. With strikes, strict adherence to flight plans, discussions with Members of the European Parliament and demonstrations in Brussels, we are fighting so that safety is taken into account in the future of European ATM and against the loss of more than 10.000 jobs. We, as always, will be ready to contribute for a better and sustainable Single European Sky, but we will not tolerate that professionals and safety are put aside."

The Single European Sky initiative would consolidate air traffic services across the EU member states.

Buying Business Travel reports that several airlines, including British Airways, Ryanair, and Easyjet cancelled flights Wednesday and Thursday.

Easyjet posted on its website that it and "all other airlines operating to and from Paris airports" had been "requested to reduce their flying programs by 20%."

British Airways flights between London and Rome and Milan were disrupted by the strike. BA said in a statement that they had "been forced to make some cancelations and have retimed a number of flights to avoid the strike period."

FMI: www.atceuc.org