French pilots call off strike
Threat of “rolling walkouts” lifted at the eleventh hour after government promises to examine controversial strike law
FRENCH pilots’ union SNPL France Alpa has today called off its month-long “rolling strike”, which had been due to start tomorrow.
The news will come as a relief for anyone heading to French airports in May, particularly those planning to fly on Air France.
The dispute - in protest over a controversial strike law - had been scheduled to start tomorrow and run until May 30. It would have seen seen pilots walk out between 5.45am and 7.45am and 12.45pm and 3.45pm each day for the duration of the strike.
It would, the union said, have led to “significant delays”.
But, according to the union, the government has promised to examine the law, which said that pilots were required to declare their intention to strike 48 hours before any stoppage.
The regulation was put in place to give airlines more time to warn passengers about flight disruptions, but the SNPL argued that it actually allowed them to hire temporary replacement pilots from other European countries.
It said that the law rendered any legitimate dispute pointless.
Air France would have been particularly affected by the action as it employs the most French pilots.
In an open letter to the union, Air France chairman and CEO Frédéric Gagey warned that the strike would badly hit business “at a crucial time in Air France’s recovery”.
Air France said today that it welcomed the pilots’ decision and confirmed the return to normal operations. On Tuesday, the operator had warned that it would have to cancel most flights during the walkout periods.
