SNCTA, the largest union of air traffic controllers in France, has called off a planned 24-hour strike after reaching a deal on pay and working conditions, but cancellations could not be reversed as DGAC has already asked airlines to cancel proportions of their flights.
UNSA-INCA and Usac-Cgt, had also called a strike. It is not clear whether they will still go ahead with the action. French activists have described April 25th as a “journée noir” (black day) for French airports.
Despite the SNCTA strike being called off, a significant number of flights remain cancelled at various French airports, with 75pc at Paris Orly, 55pc at Paris Charles de Gaulle, 65pcn in Marseilles, and 45pc elsewhere.
Unions UNSA-INCA and Usac-Cgt had also planned to strike but it is uncertain if they will proceed with the action.
The strike threat was due to unions objecting to the restructuring of air navigation services and seeking pay increases and additional employee numbers, despite an ‘Olympic truce’ in place until the end of the games.
SNTCA was seeking pay increases of 5pc per year in 2025, 2026 and 2027, and the doubling of their “special qualification allowance”.
The strike threat came despite the agreed ‘Olympic truce’ to suspend industrial action until the end of the games. Since the beginning of the year a new law has required air traffic controllers to give 48 hours notice of a strike. The strike notice which was planned for the Ascension weekend, May 9-11 has been lifted.
According to A4E, there were 16,000 flight cancellations in 2023 due to action by French air traffic control unions, 85,000 delayed flights and 20m passengers impacted. Ryanair say 300 of their flights have been affected. A4E have asked for:
- a legally binding requirement for arbitration with unions ahead of strike action;
- a 21-day notice period ahead of strikes;
- 72-hour confirmation of employee participation in strikes; and protection for overflights over countries affected by ATC strikes, without impacting flights flying to and from the country affected
Ourania Georgoutsakou Managing Director, A4E said: “this is a clear illustration of why we need an EU framework for minimising disruption from ATC strikes and for providing advance clarity and certainty on ATC capacity across Europe. Airline operations cannot be turned on and off like a light switch. Airlines will be working hard to fly as many flights as possible tomorrow but the last-minute about turn by the largest union involved will likely be too little too late for many. ”
