MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP
Despite an agreement with the SNCTA, air traffic will be very disrupted in French airports this Thursday, April 25 (illustrative photo at Roissy)
AVIATION – A turnaround… which will not prevent flight cancellations. Despite the lifting of the air traffic controllers’ strike notice on the eve of their day of action, air traffic will be very disrupted at French airports this Thursday, April 25. In question, “the late conclusion of the negotiations” between the majority union of controllers and the government, which will not prevent disruptions, underlines the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).
As usual, the DGAC had asked companies to reduce their flight plans in order to match the number of available controllers and air traffic. And the situation will be different depending on the airports.
As for the Paris region, Orly will be the platform most affected by cancellations, with 75% of flights canceled on departure or arrival, compared to 55% of flights at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle.
For airports located in the region, Marseille-Provence is the most affected with 65% of traffic canceled this Thursday. On other platforms in France, an average of 45% of flights will not take off or land. In Nice, the airport announces “a significant impact on air traffic, with around 40% of flights canceled”.
In addition to these cancellations, we should expect “ very big delays », Warned Pascal de Izaguirre, the president of the National Federation of Aviation and its Trades (FNAM), to AFP.
Transavia, a low-cost airline of the Air France-KLM group, announced the cancellation of 198 flights this Thursday, while Air France warned that “ significant cancellations and delays [étaient] predictable “, promising to notify its affected customers individually. These latter “ can change their trip free of charge or request a credit or full refund ».
“The extent of the disruption […] and the impact it has on our customers are completely unacceptable”, irritated the general director of Easyjet Johan Lundgren in a statement sent to AFP. Easyjet also clarified that its affected customers had the option of changing flights for free or receiving a refund.
Notice lifted for Ascension weekend
Most airports call on travelers to contact their airline to find out the status of their flight. The DGAC calls in any case “passengers who can postpone their trip”.
The agreement with the majority union, the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA), constitutes “ an important step forward in the reform of air traffic control in France, which was desired by the airlines” in a context of traffic growth, welcomed the Minister for Transport Patrice Vergriete this Wednesday, April 24.
According to the minister, the SNCTA has waived a second strike notice, during the extended Ascension weekend of May 9, 10 and 11.
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