Skip to main content
France

Fifth of French flights cancelled as air traffic controllers strike

Nearly 2,000 flights have been cancelled at French airports on Tuesday. More disruption is likely Wednesday as more air traffic controllers' unions join the strike against the European Commission's Single European Sky plan.

Passengers wait for their flight at Nice International airport on Tuesday
Passengers wait for their flight at Nice International airport on Tuesday Reuters/Eric Gaillard
Advertising

Out of a usual 7,650 flights a day from or to French airports, 1,800 were cancelled on Tuesday with one union calling a strike as part of Europe-wide industrial action against the plan.

  • Paris's two main airports, Charles De Gaulle and Orly, were reported to be calm with passengers whose flights were cancelled not showing up, but further cancellations or delays were possible.
  • At Bordeaux-Mérignac half the flights were cancelled.
  • At Lyon 40 per cent were cancelled.
  • At Toulouse 40 per cent were cancelled.
  • At Nice 30 per cent were cancelled.
  • At Strasbourg a third of flights were cancelled.
  • At Metz-Nancy 50 per cent of flights were cancelled.
  • Tarbes, Montpellier and Perpignan were closed on Tuesday morning.

While Air France on Monday said it believed that all its long-haul flights would be in the air, while low-cost airline Ryanair announced the cancellation of 102 flights to or from France and clled on the European Commission to stop the strike.

Air traffic controllers are taking protest action in 11 European countries.

In Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia they were working to rule, while other action was planned in Austria, Britain, Bulgaria, Hungary and Latvia, the European Transport Workers' Federation said.

Only one union called today's stoppage in France. Several other have called for a strike Wednesday.

The European Union says the single sky plan could triple its airspace capacity, improve safety, reduce pollution and cut air traffic management costs.

Unions say they agree with the principle but accuse the commission of planning to privatise certain services.

Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning

Keep up to date with international news by downloading the RFI app

Share :
Page not found

The content you requested does not exist or is not available anymore.