BUDGET airline EasyJet is set to complain to the European Commission that strikes which caused thousands of flight cancellation were in breach of EU legislation.

Bosses moaned that industrial action by air traffic controllers had left 2,600 flights grounded, costing the company £25 million in the three months to June 30.

EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said the commission’s failure to act was a violation of citizens’ freedom of movement, one of the EU’s “four freedoms.”

Costs excluding fuel are due to rise by 3 per cent, compared with 2 per cent the previous year, the company said, blaming “the regular and sustained industrial action in France as well as the impact of severe weather” for the increase.

“It’s been a challenging year so far and we estimate that this will not go away,” Mr Lungren whined.

Ryanair and IAG, which owns British Airways, have joined together to lodge similar complaints, but EasyJet will file its own claim.

Despite the disruption, EasyJet raised its full-year profit guidance from £550m to £590m, up from previous guidance of £530m to £580m.