A budget airline boss has dubbed French air traffic controllers "lazy frogs" for taking industrial action against their government's plan to make it easier to sack young staff.

He said: "Get back to work or get another job."

Demonstrating the true spirit of European fraternité, Jet2's Philip Meeson fumed at the strikers: "You choose to do the job you do and it's appalling that you are taking advantage of your dominant position by neglecting the responsibility you have to your customers."

He condescended: "Yes that’s right, holidaymakers pay your wages."

Yorkshire-based Jet2, headquartered in jewel of the north Leeds, is part of the Dart Group. It entered the crowded peasant freight market in 2002, flying out of LeedsBradford and Manchester airports.

For anyone confused about the line Meeson is taking on the walkout, the Jet2 PR team have helpfully posted a reconstruction of events at French control towers on the firm's website to illustrate their boss' comments (pictured right).

Monsieur Meeson's ferocious Gaul-baiting got backing from the Yorkshire Tourist Board this morning. Chief exec David Andrews said: "I agree with Philip Meeson's sentiments, if not the words he uses to express them. The strike action hits holidaymakers hard...they'll think twice about coming again."

Meeson also fumed at students who staged a blockade of one of his planes in the alpine resort of Chambery. The firm reports one passenger's diplomatic version of events at the two hour stand-off: "We kept on shouting to them "roast beefs want to go home" and after two hours they packed their satchels and headed off into the alpine sunset!"®

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