France’s Air Traffic Controllers Strike Causes Significant Disruptions in European Aviation

On Thursday morning, air traffic controllers in France went on strike, causing a significant reduction in the number of planes in the sky. Despite a last-minute agreement with the main union, airlines had to cancel a large number of flights due to the shortage of available staff. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported that only 2,250 flights were scheduled for the day, compared to the usual 5,200.

To align available staff with traffic, French civil aviation had asked companies to cancel three out of four flights in Paris-Orly, 55% in Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, 65% in Marseille-Provence, and 45% in other airports in mainland France. However, despite hope for an easing of constraints on airlines after the agreement with the main union, disruptions continued as three other air traffic controllers unions had maintained their strike notice. For those flights that were not canceled, delays were moderate to severe at Orly airport.

The strike also affected flights flying over French territory, resulting in delays described as light to moderate according to Eurocontrol. Airlines expressed concern about the impact on passengers and flight schedules across Europe. Overall, the strike caused significant disruptions and cancellations for thousands of passengers traveling through French airports. Aviation authorities closely monitored the situation to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.