You will have to be patient in French airports. Negotiations to avoid a strike by French air traffic controllers on Thursday have failed, their main union announced on Monday April 22, predicting a “record mobilization” of staff on April 25, synonymous with numerous flight cancellations.
“We consider that there is a failure of negotiations, of conciliation” with the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, declared to AFP a national secretary of the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA) under cover of anonymity. “We have a record mobilization, and therefore we must expect very strong disruptions, very big delays” on Thursday, added this official.
The SNCTA and other union organizations representing air traffic controllers have called for a strike to protest against the air traffic control overhaul project presented by the administration.
The negotiations, which began 15 months ago, plan to overhaul the organization of air traffic control in France, in particular the territorial coverage of air navigation services, to reorganize the work of controllers to cope with the announced increase in air traffic in in return for increases in salaries and hiring.
Discussions remained possible until Tuesday noon
For its part, the DGAC stressed Monday evening that discussions remained possible until Tuesday noon, the deadline for declaring oneself a striker. In the event of a controller strike, the DGAC asks airlines to give up part of their flight programs departing from or arriving at French airports, in order to match available personnel and the number of aircraft movements planned.
From a source close to the matter, these “reductions” could affect up to more than 70% of flights at certain airports on Thursday, while the spring school holidays are still underway in two of the three major academy groups.
The DGAC usually publishes its forecasts the day before the strike days, after having presented its requests for reductions to the airlines.