Airlines

Irish budget carrier Ryanair has taken legal action against the French government over a recently-adopted labour decree which calls for foreign airlines with bases in France to operate under French labour laws.

Ryanair calls the decree “unlawful” and claims it is an attempt to protect Air France from competition. It has filed a legal action with French civil court Conseil d’Etat to have the decree overturned.

“This [decree] is contrary to European laws on free movement of labour and services and the freedom of establishment, and is also contrary to the liberalised air transport market,” says Ryanair head of regulatory affairs and company secretary Jim Callaghan.

He adds the decree is “clearly designed to discourage foreign airlines from establishing a base of operations in France” in order to compete with Air France.

Ryanair says it has also filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC). The carrier, which recently opened a base at Marseilles airport, last year lodged a complaint with the EC to protest against the level of domestic airport and landing fees paid by Air France.