Air Traffic Controller strikes have thrown holiday destinations into disarray with many announcing cancellations of the flights ahead of the festive season.
On December 14, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) asked airlines to cancel 30 percent of their flights at Paris-Orly airport and 50 percent at Brest on Monday, due to a strike by air traffic controllers.
“Despite these preventive measures, disruptions and delays are nevertheless to be expected”, announced the DGAC in a press release, inviting “passengers who are able to do so to postpone their journey”
Air Traffic Controllers play a crucial role in managing the safe and efficient movement of air traffic, both on the ground and in the airspace.
Their responsibilities include coordinating takeoffs, landings, and en-route traffic to ensure the overall safety of air travel.
Several trade unions have given notice of strike action concerning staff at the CRNA Nord centre, which manages the flight paths of aircraft flying over France.
Advance notice has also been given for the approach control centres at Paris-Orly, Lyon, Lille, Brest, Rouen, Poitiers and Saint-Yan, according to the DGAC. To “limit traffic disruption”, civil aviation will “apply the minimum service provisions” where “regulations allow”, i.e. CRNA-Nord, Paris-Orly, Lyon and Poitiers.
A previous strike by air traffic controllers on 20 November had already caused major delays for passengers.
The air traffic controllers are particularly up in arms against a reform of their right to strike.
The reform would require air traffic controllers to declare whether or not they are individually on strike 48 hours in advance, as is already the case with the RATP and the SNCF.
Air traffic was regularly disrupted by strikes by air traffic controllers at the beginning of the year, during the dispute over pensions.
At the beginning of February, Orly was paralysed by a surprise strike, prompting calls from politicians to reform the rules governing air traffic controllers’ right to strike.
