FRANCE: Traffic controllers' strike hits Paris flights

Record ID: 339085

  • Title: FRANCE: Traffic controllers' strike hits Paris flights
  • Date: 24th February 2010
  • Summary: ORLY, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 23, 2010) (REUTERS) AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER EXTERIORS OF ORLY AIRPORT TERMINAL PASSENGERS LOOKING AT INFORMATION BOARD BOARD READING "AIR TRAFFIC DISRUPTED" PASSENGERS LOOKING AT BOARD BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (French) BRUNO HAMIAS, PASSENGER, SAYING: "I asked this young lady if I could talk
  • Embargoed: 11th March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA7BT7PE91FYKI7FJIHE32Z9MWW
  • Story Text: Up to half of the flights from major Paris airports are cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike.
    A strike by four main air traffic control unions forced airlines to scale back departures from Paris on Tuesday (February 23), causing chaos at the capital's airports and stranding families during school holidays.
    The strike grounded half of the short- and medium-haul flights at Orly airport and a quarter of similar flights at the larger Charles de Gaulle airport, Air France-KLM said on its website. All long-haul flights will be maintained, it said.
    Unions called a five-day strike starting on Tuesday to protest against a deal on modernising air traffic control, signed by Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
    Unions fear the reforms will lead to layoffs.
    At Orly airport, passengers who were scrambling for seats on the few planes that were leaving were angry.
    "This is not acceptable. Passengers are treated like dirt, we asked for some food but they refused to give it to us. This is not acceptable," said passenger, Bruno Mahias.
    Norbert Bolis, head of the CGT Aviation Trades Union explained why they went on strike.
    "We went on a strike today because we were told there would be job cuts and (the staff) feel they won't be able to carry out their job properly. We were also told we would be merged with air traffic control systems of neighbouring countries - Germany, Holland Luxembourg and Switzerland - into a European agency that would imperil the status of French employees and public service," Bolis told Reuters Television.
    Traffic disruption is expected to continue until Saturday morning (February 27).
    French unions are also protesting against expected budget cuts in 2010 and 2011 as part of a broader government effort to rein in spending.
    END
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