Ryanair and EasyJet cut routes to Sardinia after government decree.
Ryanair has announced the cuts of 10 winter routes to Sardinia, including 3 cancelled, following the Italian government decree capping fares for flights to the islands.
The Irish company said the decision was “totally unacceptable” and that the decree “will make flights more expensive” and “contrasts” the principle of tariff freedom established by EU legislation.
EasyJet, for its part, met with the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and invited the government to withdraw the decree, stating that it “will certainly lead to a reduction in the attractiveness of the Italian market” for airlines, therefore to a “reduction in supply and connectivity to and from Italian airports” and to an “inevitable increase” in prices.
Ryanair's announcement has triggered a reaction from unions and consumers. Cgil calls it an "unacceptable" choice, for Filt Cgil it "undermines a sector already in serious difficulty", for Uiltrasporti it is "unacceptable blackmail".
The National Consumers Union calls on the government and Parliament "not to give in", underlining that the decree "limits itself to prohibiting them exclusively if they lead to a ticket or accessory service sales price 200% higher than the average flight fare".
Meanwhile, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary was hit in the face with two pies by two climate activists while he was outside the European Commission building to protest against repeated strikes by air traffic controllers in the EU.
The grassroots unions have called a 24-hour national strike for tomorrow for the airline-airport-related sector that will involve all ground personnel. Ita Airways has announced the cancellation of 30 domestic flights.
Article published on 8 September 2023 - 07:58
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