Ryanair Challenges Illegal Labour Decree in France

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Ryanair News
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News Release
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03.01.07
Ryanair Challenges Illegal Labour Decree in France

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, today (Wednesday, 3rd January 2007) announced that it has filed a legal action against the French Government regarding an unlawful labour decree recently adopted in France. This decree is contrary to the European free market for airline services and is a clear attempt to protect Air France from competition.

Commenting today, Ryanair’s Head of Regulatory Affairs and Company Secretary, Jim Callaghan, said:

“Ryanair has filed a legal action in the French Conseil d’État requesting it to overturn this unlawful and anticompetitive labour decree. The decree tries to force foreign airlines to apply French labour laws when they base aircraft in France. This 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.

This decree is clearly designed to discourage foreign airlines from establishing a base of operations in France in order to compete with the high fare monopoly, Air France.

Ryanair has also filed a complaint to the European Commission calling on them to overturn this unlawful labour decree.”