Hundreds of flights across Europe have been cancelled due to a strike by French air traffic controllers. Members of the SNCTA Union are not working 8/9th April as a result of a dispute over restructuring and retirement. The worst affected airline is Air France, who has had to cancel hundreds of short and medium haul flights.
The airline said that it is expecting to be able to fly passengers long haul from Paris, but many users of the main hub at Charles de Gualle airport are finding that this is not the case. The airline is asking passengers to rebook free of charge to travel between the 10th and 15th of April. On the 16th of April, the air traffic controllers are due to strike again and then for four days from the 29th April.
The second largest airline in France, Easyjet, has cancelled 118 flights so far, including 10 to and from Britain. It has also warned passengers to expect delays, stating that their staff will do their best to make passengers as comfortable as possible during their delay. Ryanair, Europe’s largest operator has cancelled 250 flights to a range of destinations including: Gran Canaria, Marrakech, Manchester to Malaga, Stansted to Lisbon and Liverpool to Alicante and Faro. British Airways has cancelled 26 flights so far, mostly destinations from Heathrow to France but passengers to and from Barcelona will also be affected.
The Civil Aviation Authority has said that passengers due to fly out in the next few days should check with their airline before going to the airport in case their journey is cancelled or badly delayed. They are also urging passengers to exercise their consumer rights if they do find themselves delayed, with a spokesperson saying that the airline should provide food and drink in the event of a long delay and overnight delays mean that accommodation should be provided.
Ryanair has criticised the action’s of the French air traffic controllers, saying:
“It’s grossly unfair that thousands of European travellers will once again have their travel plans disrupted by the selfish actions of a tiny number of French workers”
