The Council of State throw out Easy Jet and Ryanair’s requests 

11 July 2007: The French Council of State threw out Easy Jet and Ryanair’s requests to bypass local labour legislation which described for the first time the concept of ‘operating base’ in air transport. This legislation included a decision that the French labour laws applied to the employees of these bases, even though the company headquarters were located outside of France.

On 15 January 2007 the Council of State had already rejected one attempt by the airlines to suspend the execution of this legislation.

In this latest ruling it is clarified once and for all the legal status of the employees of these foreign airlines established on French territory. French labour laws will now apply to all employees who work on the operating bases in it’s territory, just like any other company established on French soil.

Ryanair plans to appeal the decision.