Latest news with #Tabarot
Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Air traffic controller suspended in France for saying 'Free Palestine'
An air traffic controller was suspended in France after saying "Free Palestine" to an Israeli airline crew. The staff member at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport said the slogan during a radio exchange with the crew of an El Al flight on Monday, the French Ministry of Transport announced. "Analysis of the recordings proves that the facts are true," Minister Philippe Tabarot wrote on X on Tuesday. He added that the controller had "been deprived of all authority to work until further notice". "Disciplinary proceedings were immediately initiated. The sanction must be commensurate with the seriousness of the facts," Tabarot said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters For the minister, the incident violates "radiocommunication rules, which must be limited to the safety and regularity of air traffic" and demonstrates "a failure to respect the duty of civil servant confidentiality", which is the status of air traffic controllers in France. The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) branded it an "unacceptable incident", which "contravenes both the imperative of political neutrality and the security protocols governing communications between a control tower and an aircraft during takeoff". A number of social media users criticised the move, however. "The urgent thing is to stop letting Israeli planes pollute our French skies and soil. We do not want to be complicit in the genocide in Gaza, apartheid and crimes in the West Bank," said one. Another user accused the minister of turning a "blind eye to flagrant violations of all international treaties, to a genocide unfolding before his eyes, tens of thousands dead, but he suddenly finds the dignity to protest against a possible violation of the telecommunications code." Pro-Palestine airlines controversies The incident is the latest in a line of pro-Palestine controversies that have taken place in Europe involving airlines in recent months. Last month, a video released on X appeared to show a female airport agent returning the papers of several people at an unidentified Paris airport, while telling them, "Free Palestine". Despite the lack of information surrounding the incident, it was nevertheless reported to ADP, the capital's airport manager, who said it had opened an investigation. ADP later confirmed that the scene was filmed at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, also known as Roissy airport, in mid-July, in a restricted area. Was it legal for France, Italy and Greece to let Netanyahu fly over their airspace? Read More » The employee implicated in the video was reportedly identified as an Air France contractor. "Passport checks on flights are carried out by an authorised external security company, in accordance with current local regulations," the airline told Le Figaro, adding it was "deeply committed to the values of hospitality, respect and neutrality". "We will ensure that these principles are reiterated in the strongest possible terms to this service provider, whose staff are subject to a duty of confidentiality," it said. Another recent incident that made headlines happened on a flight of the Spanish airline Iberia, where Jewish passengers received kosher meal trays tagged with handwritten messages reading "Free Palestine". Iberia described the incident, which took place earlier this month, as "unacceptable" and announced the opening of a "comprehensive" investigation, both internally and involving external meal providers, to "shed light on the facts and adopt all relevant measures". Israel's war on Gaza, which has so far killed 61,722 Palestinians since 7 October 2023 and has been described as a genocide by a growing number of states, rights organisations and legal experts, has provoked outcry across Europe and led to mass demonstrations and public acts of protest, sometimes targeting individual Israelis.
Local France
3 days ago
- Business
- Local France
Ryanair boss threatens to cut services in France, again
In an interview with the French daily, Le Parisien , on Saturday, the Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary once again threatened to reduce services to France. The CEO of Europe's leading low-cost airline cautioned: "If France's response to this is to raise taxes again, then we will further reduce our capacity here." In response, the French minister of transport, Philippe Tabarot, told Le Parisien in a separate interview that he "does not tolerate this way of doing things. Dialogue, yes, but no threats." Tabarot also noted that Ryanair had doubled its profits in one year. Advertisement "Rather than lecturing the government on how to prepare its next budget, he [Michael O'Leary] would do better to focus on the service Ryanair provides to its customers," Tabarot said. O'Leary's threat came shortly after Ryanair announced it would cut its winter services to France by 13 percent and halt its winter services to three French airports - Strasbourg, Brivé and Bergerac. READ MORE: Fears over future of south-west France airport after Ryanair announcement The CEO explained that these airports were chosen because "they are three of the smallest airports where we operate, but they are also three of the services where our revenues are particularly low compared to the cost of operations. "As a result, we are barely breaking even at these airports and will certainly lose money now that our passengers have to pay almost €5 extra per ticket," he told Le Parisien. At present only the winter schedules at the three airports are affected - services from Bergerac airport were due to be suspended for part of this winter anyway, due to runway repairs. O'Leary has been an outspoken critic of the country's tax on airline tickets ( taxe sur les billets d'avion , TSBA), which was doubled in the 2025 budget so that it now adds €7.40 to an economy or short-haul flight. READ MORE: What is France's airline 'eco tax' and how does it affect ticket prices? Initially, Ryanair had threatened to halve its schedule from France following the first proposal for France to treble the TBSA. As things stand, there are no official plans for France to increase the TSBA in the upcoming 2026 budget, but Prime Minister François Bayrou has listed several proposals, including the abolition of two of the country's public holidays, to cut the budget by €40 billion. The budget will be debated in the autumn.
Miami Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Ryanair cancels flights for 30,000 passengers amid French ATC strike
July 3 (UPI) -- Ryanair publicly called on the European Commission Thursday to reform EU Air Traffic Control services as strikes by French ATC employees have canceled flights for more than 30,000 people. "European families are held to ransom by French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike," wrote Ryanair CEO Michael O'Learyin a press release. "It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being canceled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike." "It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays," he added. Ryanair asked EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to "take urgent action to reform EU ATC services" after the airline was forced to cancel 170 flights slated for Thursday and Friday, which happens to coincide with the start of the European summer holiday season. Ryanair's release also noted that aside from flights involving France being canceled, flights that fly over France to and from countries such as Ireland, Spain and Greece are also impacted. "EU skies cannot be repeatedly closed just because French Air Traffic Controllers are going on recreational strikes," it declared. "I am determined to stand firm against this unacceptable movement," said French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot in an X post Wednesday. He called the ATC's choice to strike during the peak holiday departure time and salary increase demands, among other conditions, "unacceptable." Tabarot also noted that the ATC strike impacts Air France, whose losses he said "are likely to amount to millions of euros, a burden that will ultimately fall on French taxpayers." Ryanair has also created a website titled "Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight," which lists several EU nations' transportation ministers under the banner "ATC League Of Delays." It lists each minister's country, then alleges how many flights have been disrupted and passengers have been impacted by ATC delays. It has Tabarot at the top, and purports 26,008 flights and 4,681,440 have been affected under his watch. O'Leary also said in his statement that should von der Leyen reform EU ATC services by making sure ATC services are fully staffed for the beginning of daily departures and provide protection for overflights during national ATC strikes, it would "eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike." The UNSA-ICNA air traffic control engineer union had announced in June it would be striking on July 3 and 4, and in a statement released Saturday said it is "calling for a change of course to strengthen the staff, to complete technical modernization projects and to reinstate operational priorities at the heart of decisions." Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Business
- UPI
Ryanair cancels flights for 30,000 passengers amid French ATC strike
July 3 (UPI) -- Ryanair publicly called on the European Commission Thursday to reform EU Air Traffic Control services as strikes by French ATC employees have canceled flights for more than 30,000 people. "European families are held to ransom by French Air Traffic Controllers going on strike," wrote Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary in a press release. "It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being canceled/delayed as a result of yet another French ATC strike." "It makes no sense and is abundantly unfair on EU passengers and families going on holidays," he added. Ryanair asked EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to "take urgent action to reform EU ATC services" after the airline was forced to cancel 170 flights slated for Thursday and Friday, which happens to coincide with the start of the European summer holiday season. Ryanair's release also noted that aside from flights involving France being canceled, flights that fly over France to and from countries such as Ireland, Spain and Greece are also impacted. "EU skies cannot be repeatedly closed just because French Air Traffic Controllers are going on recreational strikes," it declared. "I am determined to stand firm against this unacceptable movement," said French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot in an X post Wednesday. He called the ATC's choice to strike during the peak holiday departure time and salary increase demands, among other conditions, "unacceptable." Tabarot also noted that the ATC strike impacts Air France, whose losses he said "are likely to amount to millions of euros, a burden that will ultimately fall on French taxpayers." Ryanair has also created a website titled "Air Traffic Control Ruined Your Flight," which lists several EU nations' transportation ministers under the banner "ATC League Of Delays." It lists each minister's country, then alleges how many flights have been disrupted and passengers have been impacted by ATC delays. It has Tabarot at the top, and purports 26,008 flights and 4,681,440 have been affected under his watch. O'Leary also said in his statement that should von der Leyen reform EU ATC services by making sure ATC services are fully staffed for the beginning of daily departures and provide protection for overflights during national ATC strikes, it would "eliminate 90% of all ATC delays and cancellations, and protect EU passengers from these repeated and avoidable ATC disruptions due to yet another French ATC strike." The UNSA-ICNA air traffic control engineer union had announced in June it would be striking on July 3 and 4, and in a statement released Saturday said it is "calling for a change of course to strengthen the staff, to complete technical modernization projects and to reinstate operational priorities at the heart of decisions."
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
France mandates recall of vehicles with Takata airbags, post-fatality
The French government has mandated the recall of an additional 800,000 vehicles equipped with Takata airbags in response to a recent fatality linked to a defective airbag. This is the 'biggest-ever product recall' in automotive history, which began eight years ago when Takata filed for bankruptcy protection, reported Reuters. The tragic incident in Reims has prompted French transport minister Philippe Tabarot to reassess risk analyses conducted by manufacturers and to implement immediate recall procedures with a stop-drive ban for all affected Citroën C3 and DS3 models. Tabarot announced that all vehicles with the Takata airbag technology must be recalled, regardless of their age. He further directed all manufacturers to instruct drivers in Corsica and other overseas departments to cease driving any vehicles with Takata airbags until they are fixed. This directive also applies to all vehicles produced up to 2011 in mainland France. Earlier, the government had indicated that vehicles manufactured between 1998 and 2019 from 30 different brands could be subject to recall. According to French government spokesperson Sophie Primas, the decision for an expanded recall was made as a precautionary measure. The representatives for Takata's current owner have not provided a statement regarding the expanded recall in France. Takata had previously announced that it anticipated recalling approximately 125 million vehicles globally by 2019. Earlier in the month, Stellantis enforced an immediate stop-drive action across Europe for certain Citroën C3 and DS3 vehicle models, citing concerns over Takata airbags. "France mandates recall of vehicles with Takata airbags, post-fatality" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
