French strike affects hundreds of flights

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

An air traffic controllers’ strike has forced hundreds of flights to and from France to be cancelled, with the situation set to get worse.

France’s civil aviation authority had asked airlines to scrap around 40 per cent of flights, warning of “disruption across the whole country” on Wednesday, and it called on companies to increase cancellations to about 50 per cent on Thursday.

Flag carrier Air France warned of “very severe disruption” to its flight schedule although it pledged to operate “almost all” long-haul flights.

Low-cost operator Ryanair said it had been forced to cancel more than 250 flights due to the industrial action.

“It’s grossly unfair that thousands of European travellers will once again have their travel plans disrupted by the selfish actions of a tiny number of French … workers,” the Irish airline fumed.

Competitor easyJet said it had been forced to scrap 118 flights.

There were average delays of 30 minutes at the main Paris airport, Charles de Gaulle and 300 flights out of 700 were scrapped at the secondary airport of Orly.

On the whole, passengers had been warned well in advance and seemed to have made other plans.

The strike was called by the main air traffic union SNCTA, which wants talks over the working conditions of its members.

A particular bone of contention is the pushing back of the retirement age for air traffic controllers from 57 to 59.

French Transport Minister Alain Vidalies “regretted” that the union had chosen to call for strike action and noted that a meeting was due to take place on April 13 to discuss working practices in the sector.

SNCTA head Roger Rousseau told AFP he “hoped to find a way out” without resorting to strike action, which he said was the only way to “make ourselves heard.”

Further industrial action is planned from April 16 to 18 and from April 29 to May 2, key holiday periods.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]