Strikes have been a common occurrence among air traffic controllers in recent months, ranging from movements against pension reform to demands for pay rises in line with inflation.Paris-Orly airport has been particularly hard hit, but this time the Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle airport was almost heavily impacted. A new strike notice had been issued for the Ascension Bridge, from May 9 to 11, 2024, while a strike was already expected on Thursday April 25.
The movement was expected to be"very well attended", while the air traffic controllers also threatened to blockade the May Bridge if their demands were not met, i.e. measures to accompany an overhaul of air traffic control, in particular wage increases. Finally, at the last minute, the SNCTA, the majority union, lifted the notice after reaching an agreement.
The CEO of ADP had announced that the flight reductions requested from airlines would be"extremely high" this Thursday, something"rarely seen in our history". A difficult day was narrowly avoided, but disruptions will still be experienced, with 75% of flights still cancelled at Orly airport and 55% at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle. The reason for this is the very tight deadline"linked to this conciliation".
So, if you were planning to take a plane in the meantime, be careful! The DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) invites travelers to who are able to do so, to postpone their trip.
This latest strike will do nothing to improve the reputation of Orly airport, which ranks first in Europe for flight disruptions, with over 2,000 cancellations and 14,000 flight delays since the start of the year.
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From time to time, travelers are faced with flight cancellations and airport strikes. If these disruptions cause you to miss your flight, don't worry: there are ways to get help! We tell you all about your rights in the event of unforeseen circumstances. [Read more]