French air traffic controllers began strike action today from 6am that will run to 6am tomorrow (17th September). More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled as airlines are forced to radically slash their schedules and reroute aircraft around French airspace.
France’s aviation authority the DGAC requested that airlines to ground half their flights ahead of the walkout and to expect significant disruption. “Flight cancellations and significant delays are to be expected,” the DGAC said in a statement.
Three more ATC strike days are planned for 28 September, 29 September, and 30 September. Workers are striking in a row over pay and working conditions. The French Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA) union stated that inflation was eroding worker pay, calling for wage increases and more recruitment.
Some 55% of Air France’s short and medium-haul schedule has been cancelled, with 10% of long-haul flights impacted. French budget carrier Transavia has announced 140 flight cancellations. Brussels Airlines has cancelled two flights on Thursday evening and ten flights on Friday.
Ryanair cancelled 420 flights, calling the action inexcusable owing to its impact on flights outside of France. Neal McMahon, Ryanair operations director, called on the EU to introduce legislation to protect overflights from short notice cancellation.