FRANCE: Up to half of domestic flights are cancelled in France as pension protests kick off a sixth day of national strikes

Record ID: 340192

  • Title: FRANCE: Up to half of domestic flights are cancelled in France as pension protests kick off a sixth day of national strikes
  • Date: 20th October 2010
  • Summary: TOULOUSE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 19, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF TOULOUSE AIRPORT VARIOUS SCREENS SHOWING FLIGHT SCHEDULES SCREEN SHOWING DELAYED AND CANCELLED FLIGHTS VARIOUS OF EMPTY AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE PASSENGER SAYING: "We were supposed to leave at 7:15 a.m., but they announced that the departure has been postponed to 8:50 a.m., if
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVABW7YHP9ZQPK999QNWGFZ5IAZ3
  • Story Text: France's Toulouse airport was unusually quiet on Tuesday morning (October 19) as most passengers chose to postpone their journeys due to ongoing strike action across the country.
    The Paris Orly - Toulouse route is the heaviest used route in France and the third busiest in Europe. But around 30 percent of Air France flights were cancelled on Tuesday and up to 50 per cent from Paris Orly airport. Information screens at the airport were a sea of red as airlines tried to get long haul flights in the air at the expense of shorter destinations.
    "We were supposed to leave at 7:15 a.m., but they announced that the departure has been postponed to 8:50 a.m., if they stick to the timing. We will just have to wait," said one passenger, waiting at Toulouse airport.
    Another passenger told Reuters the strikes were making life very difficult for those who did need to get to work.
    "It's like saying, once again, people have been taken hostage. It's not easy to get to work, for people who need to go to work," he said.
    Strikes against the government's proposed pension reforms are sweeping the country, with oil refinery workers, refuse collectors and dock workers all taking industrial action.
    The government says the pension reform is essential to keep one of Europe's most generous systems fully funded, but unions say the reforms are unjust and have vowed to make President Nicolas Sarkozy back down.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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