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A dispute has erupted between the Italian government and budget airline Ryanair, after the state moved to cap flight prices between the Italian mainland and its islands. The saga raises difficult questions for Brussels, who must pit affordable connectivity against the rights of private enterprise.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government tabled the flight cap measure, which will ensure the price of a trip to and from Sicily or Sardinia does not go above 200% of the average annual price. Rome argues that the soaring prices experienced in summer are undermining Italian connectivity and represent an unacceptable form of price gouging.
Ryanair, the airline most affected by the move, has expressed predictable outrage, arguing that it is contrary to European law. The company has also essentially threatened to pull flights during the cheaper winter months to ensure the average price remains high.
Eddie Wilson, the airline’s chief executive, compared the move to the Soviet Union, branding it “ridiculous” and “illegitimate” in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
The Italian government has dismissed Ryanair’s howls of indignation, assuring journalists that the measure is fully in line with EU rules.
The exact science behind the algorithmic setting of airline ticket prices, which is specifically targeted by the legislation, is something of a mystery.
A plethora of factors are taken into account to produce the final figure, though the old staple of economics textbooks remains true – surging demand makes tickets more costly.
Domestic holidaymakers looking to lounge on the beaches of one of the two major islands whilst sipping an Ichnusa or Messina will have seen prices rise precipitously in recent months, as Europe recovers from its COVID-induced travel slump.
Ultimately it is the European Commission which will need to decide whether the measure is legal under EU law. So far, EU officials have merely asked Rome to provide more information.
The case presents a tricky balancing act, as EU officials will have to weigh the freedom of private enterprise to set prices in line with market forces, the power of member states to regulate its own territory, and concerns that freedom of movement is maintained within the union.
The environmental angle is also relevant, with efforts to make it cheaper to fly during a climate crisis likely to raise eyebrows.
To the contrary, green campaigners want to see measures enacted that would make flying more costly, in a bid to dampen demand. These include reducing carbon market allowances for aviation, taxing kerosene, and pushing up the quantity of green jet fuels that must be used, as well as applying a frequent flyer levy.
But from the standpoint of Rome, beyond the electorally popular play of taking on a foreign airline, there is a larger, more philosophical point being made.
Anything that undermines the cohesion of Italy – a country still arguably in the process of spiritually coalescing into a unified state – is to be resisted.
Such an argument is likely to play well in Brussels, which also aims to improve connectivity across the continent partly in a bid to help foster a European spirit.
And so a simple legal clarification becomes more complex, covering business concerns, state autonomy, freedom of movement, and carbon emissions.
The case at hand may be about making it easier for Italians to reach domestic islands, but whether Brussels blesses or blocks the ruling will send a wider signal.
– Sean Goulding Carroll
MEPs declare solidarity with lorry drivers strike in Gräfenhausen
For the second time this year, lorry drivers are striking at the German road service stop of Gräfenhausen (near Frankfurt) to protest that their wage payment had been withheld by their Polish employer.
The workers, most of which are from non-EU countries such as Uzbekistan and Georgia, received backing from EU lawmaker Gaby Bischoff (S&D), who visited the strike on Monday (28 August).
“As the European Parliament, we have changed the road transport law to make sure that such exploitation cannot happen, that drivers get decent wages when they work in Europe – no matter where they work,” Bischoff told reporters on site, dpa reports.
In 2020, EU lawmakers passed new rules for the “posting” of workers in road transport, laying out rules for drivers that pass one or several countries other than the one they are employed in.
But the best laws would have no effect if they were not respected or monitored, Bischoff said. “The European labour market does not work if we do not ensure that such exploitation and wage theft cannot happen in Europe,” she added.
In earlier statements given to newspaper taz, Bischoff has also called upon the European Commission to look closely at how Poland implements the EU’s rules. “And if necessary, initiate infringement proceedings against Poland,” she added.
Similar calls were made by EU lawmaker Dennis Radtke of the centre-right EPP group, who blamed the Polish employer for “criminal” behaviour.
“The authorities must respond accordingly,” Radtke told taz.
– Jonathan Packroff
Anarchy in the UK
X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, was awash with tales of woe yesterday (28 August) following a technical glitch that disrupted flights crossing the UK.
A temporary outage of British air traffic control computer systems resulted in a curtailing of flights into UK airspace, causing significant delays and a rash of flight cancellations across the UK and wider Europe.
It is reported that the automatic processing of flight plans malfunctioned, meaning air traffic controllers were required to do so manually.
Flight delays of eight to 12 hours were common. Airports began filling up with the thousands of passengers who failed to depart as scheduled due to the technical problem.
Passengers posted on X about sleeping in airports overnight, as they were unable to find last minute accommodation.
Stories of missed medical appointments, sporting matches, and holiday plans pulsed through social media.
Those on the runway when the glitch struck complained of being kept on the tarmac for hours, as authorities scrambled to ensure flights could take off safely.
The issue has since been fixed, but airport authorities warn that it will take some time for the situation to get back to normal. Those flying today are advised to only show up to the airport if it is confirmed that their flight is departing.
British Transport Minister Mark Harper announced that an independent review will be carried out to ensure the issue is not repeated.
– Sean Goulding Carroll
EU transport policy to continue green trajectory post-Fit for 55
Since July 2021, EU transport policy has been dominated by the “Fit for 55” package, the European Commission’s roadmap to ensure the bloc reduces emissions by 55% by 2030, but what is in store for the rest of 2023?
Germany’s cheap public transport ticket an ineffective climate tool: Report
Germany’s new monthly €49 offer for all regional public transport will have little impact on the transport sector’s carbon emissions so the country will continue to fail its climate targets for transport and beyond, according to an expert council advising the government.
Biofuel certification schemes slammed for failing to halt fraud
Measures to ensure the integrity of biofuels imported into the EU single market are not fit for purpose, an EU producer has claimed, asserting that EU-backed certification schemes are failing to prevent fraud.
UK air traffic issue fixed but flight disruption to continue
Britains national air traffic service (nats) was hit by a technical problem for several hours on monday (28 august), causing widespread disruption to flights in uk airspace that it said would continue for some time even though the issue was fixed.
Indian spacecraft lands on the moon in ‘victory cry of a new India’
An Indian spacecraft became the first to land on the unexplored south pole of the moon on 23 August in a mission crucial to lunar exploration and India’s standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
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