France: Thousands of flights have been cancelled, and passengers have been stranded at airports across Europe due to the ongoing strike by French air traffic controllers. The strike, which is over pay, is the worst in decades.
Short and Medium-Haul Flights Worst Affected
Airlines have cut over half their regular flight schedules at Paris’s two main airports, Orly and Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle. Short and medium-haul flights are the worst affected, with budget airline Ryanair reporting 300 cancellations on Thursday and easyJet and Transavia each reporting 200.
Delays Moderate for Flights Authorised to Operate
According to the DGAC, however, delays for flights authorised to operate have been moderate, with many only around 30 minutes late. Long-haul services have faced the least disruption.
2,000 More Flights Cancelled Across Europe
Across Europe, some 2,000 more flights were cancelled, and another 1,000 were forced to change routes to avoid French airspace, the Airlines for Europe trade body said.
Financial Losses for Airlines and Airports
The strike has caused significant financial losses to airlines and airports. Augustin de Romanet, CEO of ADP, the company operating the capital’s airports, warned that “several tens of millions of euros (dollars)” were at stake every strike day.
SNCTA Withdraw Strike Call, While Three Smaller Unions Maintain Strike
The air traffic controller union SNCTA withdrew their strike call after a deal with management, but three smaller unions maintained their strike call. The strike is a response to a planned overhaul of French air traffic control systems.
Concerns Over Renewed Action During Olympic Games
There are concerns that the risk of renewed action during the Olympic Games in Paris in late July could cause further disruptions. French holidaymakers have been particularly hard hit by the disruption, with many of the country’s schools on spring break.
Airlines Offer Customers the Option to Change Reservations for Free or Get a Refund
While several airlines have offered customers the option to change their reservations for free or get a refund for their tickets, the strike is expected to continue for several more days, causing further disruptions and losses for the aviation industry.