Are the French air traffic controller strikes going to continue?
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled this week because of the strike action
Half of flights to and from Nice have been cancelled due to the strikes
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Budget airline Ryanair has cancelled at least 170 flights because of strikes in France, disrupting the travel plans of more than 30,000 passengers.
The move comes after major strike action by air traffic controllers is predicted to cause widespread disruption on Thursday and Friday (July 3 and 4).
France’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) asked airlines to cancel up to half the flights to or from Nice airport – the third largest in France – as well as Bastia and Calvi airports in Corsica on July 3.
It also asked for a quarter of flights to Paris’ major Charles de Gaulle/Roissy and Orly airports and nearby low-cost hub Paris Beauvais to be cancelled, as well as around 30% of services at Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Ajaccio, and Figari.
On Friday, up to 40% of flights to the capital (Orly, Charles de Gaulle/Roissy and Beauvais) are set to be cancelled, as well as 50% to Nice and 30% to Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi and Figari.
You can check the online arrival/departure board on the airport’s website to see the potential impact on the day of travel, or contact your airline to see the status of your travel plans.
Currently, strike motions have not been filed for any other days this summer, and air traffic controllers must give at least 48-hours notice of their intention to strike.
Widespread anger in the sector means that further action this summer is possible, if not likely.
Strike criticised by air chief
Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary condemned this week's action. “Once again European families are held to ransom by French air traffic controllers going on strike,” he said.
“It is not acceptable that overflights over French airspace en route to their destination are being cancelled/delayed as a result of yet another... strike.”
Note that anyone flying in Europe during the period may be impacted, as the strike is expected to also affect services crossing French airspace due to the reduced number of controllers.
Even if not flying directly over France, knock-on effects from a previously delayed plane may affect you.
It is unlikely you will receive any compensation for a delay or disruption, as despite plans to overhaul the system, strikes by airport workers are considered ‘extraordinary circumstances’ and airlines do not usually pay an additional amount.
Largest union did not call for action
The unions – UNSA-ICNA and the CGT branch for air traffic controllers – are striking over a breakdown in communications between themselves and the DGAC, citing problems in the sector, including understaffing, a toxic atmosphere, and the failure of several projects.
Recent reconciliatory meetings have been unsuccessful.
The SNCTA union, which is by far the largest in the sector as it represents around 60% of workers, has confirmed that it did not ask members to strike on July 3 and 4.
“DGAC recognises the difficulties associated with chronic understaffing, which affects the quality of service provided to airlines. It is precisely to remedy this that it is advocating an ambitious recruitment plan, part of a multi-year strategy, to ensure an efficient and secure service,” the DGAC said last week (quoted in Le Figaro).
The authority “deeply regrets the choice of these dates, which are the busiest days of the year due to the large number of people going on holiday during this period,” it added.
The strike dates were specifically chosen to coincide with the end of the school year (school holidays begin on July 5).
