Paris Airports in Turmoil as Air Traffic Controller Strike Looms
Unions Stage One-Day Strike Over Salary Dispute, Could Disrupt Olympic Travel Plans
The strike is expected to paralyze air traffic (JULIEN DE ROSA)
French air traffic controllers are set to stage a one-day strike on Thursday, risking widespread flight cancellations and delays at Paris’s two main airports, warned France’s leading aviation association on Tuesday.
The strike comes after negotiations on salary increases and other measures as part of an overhaul of France’s air traffic control system broke down, prompting unions to take action. This has raised concerns over potential disruptions during the upcoming Olympic Games, which Paris is scheduled to host from late July, with a surge in visitors expected.
Thousands of flights were canceled in France and Europe. Photo: Thomas SAMSON / AFP
The main air traffic union has also threatened additional strike action over the busy May holiday weekend if their demands are not met, potentially impacting travelers’ plans.
Pascal de Izaguirre, head of FNAM, an umbrella group of French aviation industry unions, stated that the strike is expected to have a significant impact, with approximately 75 percent of flights at Paris Orly airport and 65 percent at Charles de Gaulle airport facing cancellations. Regional airports are also likely to be affected.
In addition to cancellations, travelers can anticipate major delays, according to an official from the air traffic controllers’ union.
The proposed air traffic control reforms aim to enhance productivity, but unions argue that they should be accompanied by higher salaries. The SNCTA, the main air traffic union, has issued notice of a potential three-day strike in May, further threatening travel plans during the holiday weekend.
In response to the failed discussions, the union has given authorities 15 days to find solutions before carrying out the strike threat.
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