French Air Traffic Control Strike Causes Flight Cancellations and Delays in Paris and Beyond

Air traffic controllers in France went on strike, resulting in significantly fewer planes in the sky on Thursday morning. Airlines had requested flight cancellations even though a last-minute agreement had been reached with the main union. 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 asked companies to cancel a significant number of flights. The cancellation rates were 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.

Despite hope for an easing of constraints on airlines after the agreement with the main union, disruptions continued since three other air traffic controllers unions had maintained their strike notice. For the flights that were not canceled, delays were moderate, with Orly airport being the most affected.

The strike also had consequences on flights flying over French territory, with delays being described as light to moderate according to Eurocontrol. Airlines in Europe expressed concern about the impact on passengers and flight schedules.

Overall, the strike had a significant impact on air travel in France, leading to cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers. Aviation authorities closely monitored the situation to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.