Strike at Bordeaux Airport leaves 40% flights cancelled today

A staff strike at the Aéroport de Bordeaux-Mérignac means that around 40% of the airport’s flights have been cancelled today (July 8), with the industrial action set to continue until Monday (July 11).

The airport has stated that further delays and last-minute cancellations may be announced later today. 

The strike has been called by the union Force Ouvrière (FO), which has criticised a big increase in air traffic in the past 10 years without new staff members being hired to manage the greater workload. 

There are regular flights between Bordeaux Airport and Lutin and Gatwick in London, Bristol, Dublin and a host of other European destinations.

Travellers who are set to fly from or to the airport this weekend are encouraged to check Bordeaux Airport’s website regularly for updates. 

Several flights from Bordeaux Airport are cancelled or delayed today (July 8). Credit: Screenshot / Aéroport de Bordeaux

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Working conditions have deteriorated

Pierre Bergot, FO’s trade union delegate, said that “working conditions have deteriorated considerably”. 

“There were 200 employees in 2010. Today there are still 200 even though [air] traffic doubled or even tripled in 2019,” he told France3.

FO has also hit out at working hours and a lack of time off, ageing airport infrastructure and low salaries. 

Mr Bergot said they are calling for a €300 per month increase in gross salaries to contend with rising inflation.

He has ruled out calling off the strike, saying management’s proposals are “still insufficient”, but said that talks were “going in the right direction”. 

Simon Dreschel, general manager of the airport, said that the management team has been having conversations with the staff “for several weeks”. 

“The air transport world has changed and we know that the airport model will evolve – we know its limitations. We need to reach an agreement,” he said. 

There have been several strikes at the airports Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris in recent weeks linked to staff pay. 

Further strikes are not expected this weekend after union leaders came to an agreement with Aéroports de Paris’ management. 

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