Air traffic control strikes against pension reform in France are a major frustration for companies that are often forced to bypass the country, the leader of their top global organization said on Monday, on the eve of a new day of mobilization.
These strikes “are almost daily”, and “they disrupt air traffic not only in France, but throughout the world because they force companies to go through other countries to avoid French airspace”, denounced the director general of the International Association of Air Transport (Iata), Willie Walsh.
“I have to say, this is causing extreme exasperation to the airlines,” launched Willie Walsh during a press conference in Istanbul, on the sidelines of his organization’s general assembly. “The French system must be reformed. If France wants to close, it is within its right, but it must not affect the neighbours,” he continued.
Petition launched by Ryanair
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation of France warned that air traffic would again be interrupted on Tuesday due to the participation of air traffic controllers in the 14th day of mobilization against the pension reform. The administration has asked airlines to cancel a third of their flights at Paris-Orly but also one in five flights to or from Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes airports.
These preventive cancellations must coincide with the traffic and the number of air traffic controllers available, to avoid flight cancellations without the passengers being able to be notified. These work stoppages, at the call of the unions mobilized against the pension reform promulgated in mid-April, will also affect certain en route air navigation centers (CRNA), which guide planes that fly over the national territory.
Given France’s geographical position, these strikes have cascading effects on all European air traffic, irritating many foreign companies who are forced to cancel or delay flights. Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has launched a petition calling on the European Union to protect overflights from French territory in the event of social unrest. This text obtained more than 1.1 million signatures. For its part, the European air traffic monitoring body, Eurocontrol, estimated that 10 million passengers were affected by the strike between March and early April.
Source: BFM TV
