Low-cost airline complains to European Commission after Poland cuts flights to Warsaw

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has complained about the decision taken by the Polish authorities regarding the number of flights in the capital.

Earlier, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that the Polish government decided to cut the number of flights to Warsaw after authorities failed to reach an agreement with air traffic controllers in a dispute over pay and other conditions.

Commenting on the matter, Ryanair CEO Michael Kevin O’Leary said the decree the Polish Prime Minister issued to curb the airline’s operations at Warsaw Modlin Airport discriminates against Ryanair .

O’Leary revealed that Ryanair had already lodged a complaint with the Commission of the European Union, reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.

Furthermore, he pointed out that due to the new rules, more than 300,000 Ryanair passengers will have their flights canceled, while LOT Polish Airlines will continue to operate half-empty jets on domestic routes.

Due to the inability of the Polish authorities to reach an agreement with the air traffic controllers, not only flights to and from Poland, but also those passing through Polish airspace could also face major disruptions. .

A spokesperson said last week that the main reason some air traffic controllers have decided to disagree with the work rules is that they believe the rules threaten overall safety.

The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, Eurocontrol, warned last week that Poland’s Civil Aviation Authority was drastically reducing the number of flights that typically cross Polish airspace.

This means that not only Ryanair but also other airlines will now face the same difficulties.

The latest data released by Eurocontrol shows that Ryanair recorded the best performance among other airlines during the period from April 18 to April 24. In the third week of April, the airline averaged 2,753 flights per day, which is only one percent below the data recorder during the same period in 2019.

However, it remains to be seen how the decision of the Polish authorities affected the activity of the airline. The next update should be released next week.

Earlier, the World Travel and Tourism Council said there would be a massive increase in inbound international flights around the world this year. The WTTC revealed that only in the first three months of this year has Europe seen a 350% increase. Moreover, the same noted that in the second quarter, Europe would continue to show positive trends as booking rates are increasing every day.