A French air traffic controllers’ strike on Thursday, 3 and Friday, 4 July, has caused hundreds of flight cancellations and significant delays. At Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, hundreds of passengers are forced to reorganize.
«I came for my wife’s fortieth birthday and now I’m stuck here. At the moment, I’m on standby for three flights,» a man nervously smiles in the middle of Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport.
Throughout France, nearly 270 controllers are not operational out of a total of 1,400. In Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly, 25% of flights have been canceled. These two airports, during peak summer season, see about 350,000 passengers passing through each day.
«We’re a bit upset, but we understand the right to strike, which should apply to everyone. However, it’s a bit difficult to hear that it’s happening in July when families are going on vacation,» says the man with a straw hat waiting on the airport benches in Roissy.
The sentiment is echoed by Nadia Rivet: «The right to strike is a right, but it’s penalizing for us,» says the young woman who was supposed to travel from Pau to Paris.
The most understanding view comes from an American passenger. «I would have liked to be offered a hotel room. Because the first flight was long and the wait even longer. The right to strike is a right, it allows us to make our voice heard. I think that’s important. We must not lose that right,» recounts the young woman embarking on a nearly 2-day journey.
The strike, initiated by the Unsa-Icna union (17% of votes) and joined by Usac-CGT (16%), demands better working conditions, more staff, and denounces a management deemed «toxic». The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has asked airlines to reduce their schedules to adjust the number of controllers on duty.
«Yesterday everything was confirmed. We happily took a taxi only to discover that everything was canceled contrary to what we were told,» recounts another traveler to Ici Paris Île-de-France. The man does not clearly show his discontent like another traveler who «will return tomorrow at 5 a.m. after a night in a hotel».
On Friday, the day before the school holidays, the situation will be even more tense at Parisian airports and at Beauvais. The DGAC has ordered a 40% reduction in the number of flights there.
25% of flights have been canceled at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports. These two airports, which see a total of approximately 350,000 passengers passing through each day during the peak summer season, are facing disruptions due to the strike action of French air traffic controllers.
Passengers at the airports express a mix of frustration and understanding towards the strike. While some, like a man waiting at Roissy airport, acknowledge the right to strike but find it inconvenient during the holiday season, others, like a woman traveling from Pau to Paris, feel the impact more directly as their travel plans are disrupted.
One American passenger, undertaking a two-day journey, shares a more empathetic view, recognizing the importance of the right to strike as a means to voice concerns, despite the inconvenience faced during the travel disruptions.
The strike, initiated by the Unsa-Icna union (17% of the vote) and supported by the Usac-CGT (16%), aims to improve working conditions, increase staffing levels, and address concerns about what they perceive as a toxic management environment. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has instructed airlines to reduce their flight schedules to accommodate the reduced number of controllers available.
The impact of the strike is palpable, with passengers recounting instances of last-minute cancellations and the need to rearrange their travel plans. As the strike continues, the situation is expected to worsen, with the DGAC ordering a 40% reduction in flights at Parisian airports and Beauvais on Friday, the eve of the school holidays.
Despite the inconveniences faced by passengers, the strike serves as a reminder of the importance of workers’ rights and the need to address systemic issues within the aviation industry. As travelers navigate through the challenges posed by the strike, the call for better working conditions and a more supportive management approach remains at the forefront of the ongoing discussions between the unions and aviation authorities. L’homme ne montre pas ouvertement son mécontentement comme ce voyageur qui a déclaré qu’il «reviendrait demain à 5 heures après une nuit d’hôtel».
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