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Travel plans for thousands of passengers this September are set to be disrupted after France’s largest air traffic control union filed a strike motion.
The SNCTA union confirmed it will go on strike for 24 hours, from the morning of 18 September to the end of 19 September. Representing about 60 per cent of France’s air traffic controllers, the union is the largest in the country.
The strike comes after what the SNCTA described as a breakdown in dialogue with France’s Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC).
In a statement this week, the union said, “For several years now, air traffic control governance has been characterised by mistrust, punitive practices and degrading management methods. It is clear that this fruitless dialogue is now blocking any prospect of progress and reform.”
Travel chaos expected across France and Europe
Air traffic controllers at all airports across France, including Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, are being urged to participate. Fellow unions in the sector, UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, have not confirmed whether they will join the action.
Regardless, many flights both to and from French airports are expected to be affected, as well as those crossing French airspace, including routes from the UK, Spain and Italy.
Exact details of cancellations and delays are not yet available, but will be released by France’s Civil Aviation Authority two days in advance of the strike action.
Passengers scheduled to fly during the strike period are being advised to remain in contact with their airline for updates.
What previous strikes taught travellers
The last wave of industrial action, on 3-4 July, caused chaos across Europe.
More than one million passengers were impacted by strikes organised by the smaller unions UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, according to European aviation coordinator Eurocontrol. Thousands of flights were cancelled.
Low-cost carrier Ryanair claimed the disruption cost airlines over €100 million, blaming the strikes on “hopeless mismanagement.”
While the SNCTA sat out the July strike, it appears to have taken a 180-degree turn, sparking concerns that September’s disruption could be even greater due to the union’s size and influence.
Union calls for pay rise and management reforms
The SNCTA is calling for wages to be adjusted for inflation and for “a profound change in the management of operations” at the DGAC. It also made clear that the strike amounts to a last resort.
“On numerous occasions, the SNCTA has favoured social dialogue and made concrete proposals,” the union pointed out in a statement on Thursday.
Even if other unions do not join, the action could affect thousands of flights. Passengers are being urged to check schedules regularly, contact airlines before travelling and allow extra time for connections, with long delays and cancellations expected across Europe.
