Multiple strikes hit air travel

Photo: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures
Photo: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures

Strikes will hit European air travellers hard from Monday, as French air traffic controllers start their first grève of the year.

British Airways has cancelled at least 40 flights on Monday, plus a further six departures because of a week-long stoppage by some cabin crew.

The ATC strike starts from Monday and is due to end on Friday, March 10, at Brest and Bordeaux, while controllers at the south of France centre in Aix-en-Provence will stop work between Tuesday and Thursday.

The French Civil Aviation Authority, the DGAC, has asked airlines to reduce their flight schedule in west and southwest France. BA has said it will attempt to reduce the strike’s impact by using larger aircraft, where possible, to help cope with cancellations.

Air France appears to be the hardest hit, mainly on domestic flights to and from Paris Orly. Cancellations include 20 flights to and from Toulouse, 12 serving Brest and 10 to and from Bordeaux. The airline has also been hit by a strike by two cabin staff unions, with industrial action due to start from Tuesday.

The UK’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, says it expects to cancel between 30 and 40 flights on Monday, which will be mainly on French domestic services. In a statement on its website, easyJet says: “We are working to minimise the impact of the strike, but like other airlines flying to and from France there will be cancellations and potential delays.”

 

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