Ryanair and the Danish Model (Case study contribution to textbook)

The European Union, love it or loathe it, was designed to bring economic and social benefits across Europe. The project aimed to break down the barriers that hinder the free movement of goods, capital, services and labour thereby creating peace and prosperity for nations and regions. The result was a sharp increase of mobility of labor and capital, leading to increased levels of economic activity, and improving social standards. Yet, economic integration can also result in conflict when established parties feel that their interests are threatened. This case study examines a disagreement that occurred between the Irish company Ryanair and the Danish trade unions when Ryanair took advantage of the single market to set up a new base at Copenhagen airport.