French air traffic controllers flag strike action

Peak holiday season is approaching in France. 

So, just as predictably as night follows day, are strike warnings.

French air traffic controllers are threatening to strike as the summer season starts for millions across Europe, Euronews and Travel Mole report.

The UNSA-ICNA union - the second-largest union for air traffic controllers in France - has filed a strike motion for the July 3 and 4, citing “toxic” and “authoritarian” management as one of the reasons for the walkout.

The union is calling for increased staffing levels and a pay rise, which have been denied by the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC).

The third-largest ATC union, USAC-CGT, also issued a strike notice this week for July 3 but the largest union representing French air traffic controllers, SNCTA, has indicated that it isn’t calling for a strike.

The union has also criticised the DGAC for ” failing to modernise the tools that are essential for air traffic controllers, even though it keeps promising that all means are being put in place.”

The union cites repeated major breakdowns despite “weeks of repeated alerts.”

The DGAC has said it “deeply” regrets the choice of dates. The air traffic controllers strike dates correspond to the busiest days of the year, due to the numerous departures for vacations during this period.

In a statement, the DGAC acknowledge “the difficulties related to the situation of chronic understaffing,” which “affect the quality of the service provided to airlines.”

In France, air traffic controllers must submit a strike notice at least five days in advance. This is in accordance with the 1984 law governing the right to strike in the public service.

So it looks like two days of cancellations and delays later this week.

UPDATE: Budget airline Ryanair alone says it has been forced to cancel at least 170 flights due to the action which started on Friday.   

Airlines can't stay on schedule; but blame air traffic controllers

Remember how airlines promised improved on-time performances post-Covid.

It isn't happening. But the airlines are blaming air traffic controllers.

On-time air travel performance in Europe last year was one of the worst for many years, the Travel Mole portal reports.

There was a notable increase in delays and costs impacting airlines with millions of passengers disrupted.

The recently-released Performance Review Report (PRR) from Eurocontrol, shows over 25% of flights did not arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled time.

En-route Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays in 2023 were the second highest over the past 20 years and exceeded the figure for 2019, even though that year had a higher level of air traffic.

Total ATFM delays in 2023 reached 18.1 million minutes, which is the equivalent of 301,000 hours.

The report suggests inadequate levels of recruitment of air traffic controllers will add to the pressure on Europe’s airspace.

Airlines for Europe (A4E) is calling for a rethink of how Europe’s airspace is managed in order to meet the targets for performance.

Ourania Georgoutsakou, MD of A4E said: “Airspace is a critical infrastructure for Europe and the latest performance review shows that it is creaking at the seams.

"Over one in four flights delayed is simply unacceptable for airlines and their passengers.”

Image: Alvin Niwan, Scop.io 

Striking a blow: the French are at it again

Several airports across France will cancel flights due to more strike action planned for this Monday - May 1.

Stoppages are planned as air traffic controllers walk out, Travel Mole reports.

France’s civil aviation authority says the strikes are expected to heavily impact Paris airports Orly, CDG (above) and Beauvais, as well as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Nantes and Nice.

The next series of the long-running protests against the raising of the pension age in France are planned nationwide for May Day, with flights likely affected from today until early on Tuesday.

Air traffic controllers have also been conducting their own rolling strikes independent of the countrywide pension protests.

Even travellers flying over French territory could be affected.

The DGAC civil aviation authority has asked airlines to cancel one-third of scheduled flights at Orly Airport and 25% at Charles de Gaulle, Nice and Beauvais.

It wants 33% of flights grounded at the other airports too.

Around 3,700 flights overfly France every day.

Strike disrupts weekend travel plans

The French love a strike.

Particularly when it is as disruptive as possible. Blocking major roads for hours and inconveniencing commuters and other travellers are familiar tactics.

This week it was French air traffic controllers causing chaos at airports including Charles de Gaulle (above) in Paris.

The strike - and staff shortages - forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights.

France’s aviation authority, the DGAC, this week asked airlines to slash schedules to minimise disruption - a bizarre concept.

Airlines including Air France and budget carrier Ryanair were badly affected with Ryanair saying the main impact came from limits on overflying French airspace.

Ryanair blasted the "unjustified strike, which achieves nothing but disrupt thousands of European citizens/visitors’ weekend travel plans".

French air traffic control union SNCTA said in a statement that the walkout by its members was over the effects of inflation and its demand for more staff members. 

"It is inexplicable that thousands of European citizens/visitors will have their travel plans unfairly disrupted by yet another French ATC (air traffic control) strike," Ryanair said in a statement.

The Irish airline said the travel plans of 80,000 passengers had been affected when it had cancelled 420 flights, many of which were to fly over France.

Air France said it would operate only 45% of its short and medium-range flights but 90% of its long-haul flights.

Low-cost carrier EasyJet said it had cancelled 76 flights due to the strike.

Some local airports were temporarily closed, including Montpellier and Rennes, Travel Mole reported.

Major airports in neighbouring countries also felt the impact, with Spanish airport operator AENA saying it had been forced to cancel 65 flights.

The air traffic strike has followed unrest from pilots and baggage handlers, who are are asking for pay increases and better working conditions.