WARSAW (Reuters), Poland could dramatically reduce its flights from Warsaw starting May 1. If a dispute between air traffic controllers regarding pay and conditions does not resolve, the legislation was released before negotiations began on Tuesday.

Nearly 90 percent of Warsaw’s air traffic controllers chose to leave rather than accepting new regulations that they believe threaten their safety. Some are already gone, while the notice period ends for the rest of the 136 on April 30.

This will make Warsaw’s main airports without 26 controllers and could lead to massive cancellations and disruptions to flights from and to Warsaw.

Late Monday night, the government made it clear in the official gazette (Monday) that Modlin and Chopin international airports wouldn’t be open from 0930 to 1700 local time on May 1st due to a shortage of air traffic control personnel. It also included a list of preferred flight destinations.

LOT Polish Airlines (Wizz Air, Lufthansa and LOT Polish Airlines) are all affected. All three operate from Chopin airport. Ryanair flies from Modlin.

RYANAIR ANGER

Ryanair claimed Tuesday it had filed a complaint to the European Commission over the legislation. It believes that the prioritized destinations list unfairly favors LOT.

Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary claimed that “the Polish government first mismanaged a pay dispute with Warsaw airport traffic controllers, and now has shown total disregard for Ryanair customers, choosing not-essentialLOT routes… at cost of key Ryanair route such as Stockholm or Milan.”

On Tuesday, talks between the union representing air traffic controllers and the employer of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency was to be resumed.

The union considers the following proposals unacceptable: a reduction in pay for air traffic controllers, an increase of eight hours to twelve in their maximum work hours per shift, and the option to allow controllers to work solo.

According to the government, it accepts the safety recommendations and talks now turn on the salary issue. However, controllers expect too much, given the decreased air traffic as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The union representing air traffic controllers claims that safety issues have not been addressed adequately and that the government has misrepresented their earnings.