EU: Ryanair makes antitrust accusations while bracing for strike

EC Commissioner for Employment, Marianne Thyssen, met with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary on Wednesday, September 26, at the executive’s request to discuss the current dispute at the airline company on the application of labor law and the steps Ryanair is taking.

During the meeting, O’Leary accused rival airlines of “conspiring” to incite strike action. The budget airline has dealt with a series of labor strikes since July 25 and 26. There was an additional strike on August 10 that caused the cancellation of almost 400 flights.

O’Leary claimed that negotiations with cabin crew unions had been derailed by “unnecessary strikes and disruptive interference” that had been “promoted and coordinated by competitor airline employees, their unions and lobby groups.”

He went on to say, “This is an unlawful attempt to distort competition and customer choice, for the benefit of legacy airlines.”

Full Content: El Pais

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.