With the day of mobilization against the pension reform, the sky will be a little clear on January 19. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) indeed asked airlines on Tuesday to preventively cancel one in five flights at Orly on Thursday, due to a strike by air traffic controllers.
“Airlines must reduce their flight program initially planned at Paris-Orly airport by 20% from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on January 19,” according to a “notice for air missions” (NOTAM) published by the DGAC. Flights to Overseas, many departing from Orly, are not affected by cancellations, however, in the name of territorial continuity.
According to the manager of Orly, Groupe ADP, the airport platform hosted last month some 530 flights on average per day departing or arriving. Just over 100 flights would therefore be canceled on Thursday. “Despite these preventive measures, disruptions and delays are nevertheless to be expected”, according to the DGAC.
These preventive cancellations do not in fact prejudge the extent of the disruption of aircraft movements, because the companies themselves could be affected by work stoppages, and must communicate their forecasts separately. Air France thus plans to operate Thursday “all of its long-haul flights”, and “nearly 90% of its short and medium-haul flights”, the company said on Tuesday evening, although “delays and cancellations last minute cannot be ruled out”.
The DGAC advises to postpone the trips
Air France customers affected by flight cancellations will be “notified individually by SMS, e-mail or via the application” of the company. “Commercial measures (…) 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”.
For Thursday, “the DGAC will apply the provisions of the minimum service in the en route air navigation centers (CRNA) and in the air navigation services of the airports where the regulatory provisions allow it”, specified the administration. Finally, “the DGAC invites passengers who can do so to postpone their trip and to inquire with their airline to find out the status of their flight”.