Stop strike by French air traffic controllers so they don't ruin British holidays, ex-BA chief urges

Former BA chief Willie Walsh has criticized the EU for setting unrealistic green fuel targets for flying. Credit: DILARA SENKAYA/REUTERS

The former head of British Airways has called for new laws to prevent striking French air traffic controllers from harming British holidaymakers this summer.

Willie Walsh, who currently leads the lobbying group Iata airlines, said the EU should change the rules to allow flights to continue over the country while air traffic controllers leave.

He said: “If France wants to shut down their country, fine. But it should not have such a significant impact on other countries.”

French law requires domestic flights to continue during strikes. However, international flights are currently prohibited from flying over the country while the air traffic controllers are on strike.

Even non-France-bound flights are interrupted as a result. Strikes in May caused widespread delays and cancellations of flights departing from the UK.

French air traffic controllers plan to resume the strike in the coming weeks, jeopardizing many British holidaymakers' holiday plans.

Aviation leaders have been lobbying Brussels for two decades to change the way air traffic is controlled over Europe. They have long wanted to move towards a «single European sky» replacing country air traffic controllers with a continent-wide regime. However, it is constantly blocked by individual EU states.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary recently submitted a petition signed by more than a million people to the European Commission proposing new laws that would prevent French air traffic controllers from disrupting international flights during strike time.

Mr Walsh Comments made at the IATA annual conference in Istanbul came when he called the European Union «anti-aviation». > Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary also criticized the rules. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

Willie Walsh, who was chief executive of British Airways and then of its parent IAG between 2005 and 2020, has criticized the EU for setting unrealistic targets for clean fuel for flights.< /p>

Brussels introduces minimum quotas for sustainable aviation. fuel made from waste such as used cooking oils for EU airlines and their suppliers

At least 2% of all fuel delivered to airports from 2025 must be sustainable, and by 2030 — 6% by 2035 to 20%, and 70 percent by 2050 under rules announced earlier this year.

However, Mr. Walsh said the targets were unrealistic without more investment in production.

He said: «I think it's fair to portray the EU as anti-aviation, while other parts of the world are very positive and pro-aviation.

«My criticism of Europe is actually related with the industry's decarbonization agenda. We believe that Europe should encourage the production of sustainable aviation fuels to help airlines move towards zero emissions.

“So we must start from the facts, and the facts do not support the measures that are being taken by many in the EU.”< /p>