Creating a single European airspace is unpopular with controllers, writes Colman Cassidy
Are air passengers facing a summer of discontent?
Tourist interests across Europe are fearful yesterday's strike by air traffic controllers could mean a summer of discontent.
The action, in protest over EU plans to introduce a so-called Single Sky policy, entailed full- day strike in France, a four-hour industrial stoppage in Greece and Portugal and a one-hour walkout in Italy. It preceded today's national stoppage by public-sector workers in Spain which has seen cancellation of hundreds of flights across Europe to Iberian sunspots.
In a separate development, air traffic controllers in Italy have threatened a second strike next Wednesday. And pilots for national flag carrier Alitalia have said they will not fly for four hours on June 28th in a protest over pay and conditions. In addition, air transport workers in Italy are due to strike for four hours on July 12th and July 19th.
In Britain, air traffic controllers at the part-privatised National Air Traffic Services have rejected a 6 per cent pay offer and are threatening to go on strike for the first time in 21 years.
What was the impact on the ground in Ireland?
Irish air passengers faced a day of cancellations, with Aer Lingus and Ryanair each operating only one flight from Dublin to Paris. Air France operated no flights between France, Ireland and the UK.
What is the Singles Sky policy?
It represents a proposal by the European Commission to create a single EU airspace. This would mean each member country's airspace would be open to aircraft from any other EU country. A "single sky" area could then be centrally co-ordinated, enabling the introduction of standard technical and safety standards. It means Europe's air traffic controllers would come under a single chain of command.
How does current EU policy on air traffic control compare to norms in the US?
There are some 27 national control authorities across Europe, at present, with up to 40 air traffic control centres. This is in contrast to the US, where there are only five or six centres at the most and just one controlling authority.
Why are air traffic controllers opposed to the EU plan?
The air traffic controllers, led by the French, maintain such a policy would lead to widespread privatisation. In tandem with this they believe it would mean massive job cuts and serious disruption during the changeover period. They are angry that their complaints have been almost completely ignored by the politicians. Not one transport minister has challenged the Single Sky policy.
What is the response of the EU Commission to these charges?
EU Transport Commissioner, Ms Loyola de Palacio, rejects the air traffic controllers' claim that the policy amounts to privatisation by the back door. She has called the industrial action "misguided" and says it only adds to the problems of an industry still suffering from the aftermath of September 11th.
How well organised are the European air traffic controllers?
Yesterday's strike action was co-ordinated by the ATCEUC, an umbrella group of air traffic controllers including unions from France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland and Spain, as well as Bulgaria, Croatia Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland, outside the EU.
The level of cross-European enthusiasm would appear to vary in intensity, however, for any prolonged industrial engagement, as among a majority of Irish air traffic controllers, for example, who tend to view yesterday's French action as counter-productive.