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News Release
05.06.09

Belgian Air Traffic Controllers hold passengers to ransom

 
 
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (4th June) condemned the selfish decision by Belgian Air Traffic Control (Belgocontrol) to effectively close Brussels South Charleroi Airport without warning, affecting the travel plans of thousands of Ryanair passengers as they continually walk off the job without notice or warning.  
 
Ryanair called on the Chief Executive of Belgocontrol, Jean-Claude Tintin, and Walloon Transport Minister, Andre Antoine, to ensure that full air traffic control services are immediately restored to Brussels South Charleroi Airport to avoid further unnecessary disruption to thousands of Ryanair passengers.
 
Ryanair confirmed that since 18th May its passengers have had to endure flight diversions, delays and cancellations due to wildcat action by Belgian Air Traffic Controllers who enjoy generous salaries, pensions and guaranteed job security, unlike many of the passengers whose travel plans they severely disrupted. No notice was provided to Ryanair or the travelling public in advance of these walk-offs and no information has been provided as to any further disruptions, in another example of monopoly contempt for those passengers who pay air traffic controllers’ salaries.
 
Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:
 
“Ryanair will not tolerate the complete disregard shown by Belgian Air Traffic Controllers to our passengers. Ryanair has invested €560million at our Charleroi base with eight aircraft supporting 3,000 local jobs.  These shameful wildcat walkouts by Air Traffic Control staff have forced Ryanair to delay, divert and cancel flights, affecting thousands of passengers and jeopardising our investment in Charleroi at a time when airports all over Europe are besieging Ryanair to provide new or additional services.   
 
An immediate assurance is required from Belgocontrol and the Minister for Transport that no further unnecessary disruption is caused by air traffic control services at Charleroi.”
 
 

 
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