A strike by French air controllers, organized to protest against the lack of workforce and the dilapidation of equipment, forced the airlines to cancel hundreds of flights on Thursday, while the summer season begins barely.
The social movement affected the airports in the whole country, notably Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle in Paris, one of the largest European hubs, and was to continue on Friday for a second consecutive day.
The Airlines for Europe lobby indicated that more than 1,500 flights would be canceled over the two days, affecting nearly 300,000 travelers.
The low -cost company Ryanair has announced the cancellation of 468 flights, a figure called to increase.
“Once again, European families are taken hostage by the strike of French air controllers,” denounced Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair. “It is insane and deeply unfair for passengers and families of the EU who go on vacation. »»
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) asked the companies to remove one in four flights from the departure of Paris airports, and almost half of the flights from the capital on Friday. Elsewhere, companies had to reduce their program by 30 to 50 %, the southern country being particularly affected.
Air France, the leading French company, said it has adapted its program, while maintaining all of its long-haul flights.
Easyjet announced the cancellation of 274 flights on Thursday and Friday. Lufthansa also reduced its offer over these two days, impacting certain flights to destination or from Nice, Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Montpellier.
British Airways, a subsidiary of the IAG group, has deployed greater capacity planes to limit disturbances.
Obsolete sub-stakes and equipment
The strike comes at the time of the kick -off of European summer holidays, one of the densest travel periods of the year.
The second union of air controllers, UNSA-ICNA, explains that its members protest against the chronic inactive, the dilapidation of equipment and a managerial culture deemed toxic. Another union, USAC-CGT, believes that the DGAC does not measure the extent of the frustration of the controllers.
“The DGAC does not modernize the essential tools for air controllers, although it continues to ensure that all the necessary means are mobilized,” deplores the UNSA-ICNA in a press release.
“The systems are out of breath, and the organization (of air traffic control) is constantly asking for its staff to overcome its difficulties,” he adds.
The DGAC did not immediately respond to requests concerning union concerns.
Their complaints echo those expressed by American air controllers, also faced with obsolete infrastructure, shortages of personnel and failing technologies.
The French Minister of Transport, Philippe Tabarot, judged the union demands unacceptable.
According to Airlines for Europe, French air traffic control has proven one of the weak links in the European network, displaying some of the worst delays on the continent since the start of the year.
Michael O’Leary (Ryanair) called on the European Commission, an executive body of the EU, to reform the air traffic control services in order to ensure a sufficient workforce in peak periods and to guarantee the protection of overflights – flights crossing a country without landing there – during national strikes.
