Air France decided to cancel 55% of its short and medium-haul flights and 10% of its long-haul flights on Friday due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, the company announced on Wednesday. “Last minute delays and cancellations cannot be ruled out,” added Air France in a press release, stressing that “customers affected by canceled flights will be notified individually by SMS and e-mail”.
Air France is thus complying with a request from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), which called on airlines to give up half of their flight program on Friday. This decision was taken on Tuesday following a strike notice launched by the SNCTA (National Union of Air Traffic Controllers) and concerns both metropolitan France and overseas.
400 flights canceled
For Air France, this represents around 400 canceled flights out of 800 scheduled for Friday, according to the company, which “strongly recommends that its customers postpone their trip”. “Commercial measures that can be consulted on airfrance.fr allow anticipation or postponement free of charge, and for customers whose flight is canceled, a credit note or a full refund in the event that they no longer travel”, she explained. . “Air France regrets this move and is doing everything to limit its impact on its customers. All the company’s teams are mobilized to assist them in their efforts,” the company added.
The SNCTA, the majority union among air traffic controllers, decided on this movement to demand wage increases to compensate for inflation, as well as recruitment. In addition to Friday’s day of action, the union announced the filing of “a second notice from Wednesday September 28 to Friday September 30, 2022 inclusive”.