Following the filing of a strike notice by air traffic controllers, the French aviation regulator DGAC requested that airlines cancel half their flights on Friday, September 16.
From 6 a.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Saturday, the aviation authority warned on Twitter that the strike would seriously impede air travel throughout France.
In a statement, they urged airlines to “lower their flight schedule by 50 percent,” adding that significant delays and cancellations were still to be anticipated even with the requested assistance and minimal service.
Additionally, the DGAC urged travellers to check the status of their flights with their carriers and to reschedule their vacations if at all feasible.
The strike may have an impact on aircraft across Europe, particularly those that usually fly over France.
The DGAC reported that it was in discussions with Eurocontrol, the European air traffic controller, to suggest steps for the airlines to avoid French airspace.
The Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA), the largest union of air traffic controllers in France, submitted the notice of strike.
Because of the fact that “a third of the workforce will retire between 2029 and 2035,” according to the union’s website, it is imperative that the SNCTA receive guarantees on pay for high inflation and future hiring.
