FRANCE: French protests threaten Paris airport fuel supplies

Record ID: 340486

  • Title: FRANCE: French protests threaten Paris airport fuel supplies
  • Date: 17th October 2010
  • Summary: ROISSY EN FRANCE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 16, 2010) (REUTERS) CONTROL TOWER TERMINAL EXTERIOR PLANES TAXIING ON TARMAC PLANES FUELLING UP INTERIORS OF TERMINAL (SOUNDBITE) (French) LUCIEN, PASSENGER, SAYING "No, it (fuel shortage) doesn't scare me because I think we've got what they call reserves. So it doesn't scare me." (SOUNDBITE) (French) GUILLAUME, PASSENGER, SAYING
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADGSI08MJ7C6GRXEEJ3EV4G5TK
  • Story Text: A pipeline that serves Paris's two main airports was forced to reduce its output on Saturday (October 16) as widespread refinery strikes continued.
    The pipeline, which connects several of the refineries closed by the strikes, has been blocked since Friday (October 15), according to the operating company.
    The company that runs both airports said that Orly had 17 days worth of supplies, but that reserves at Charles de Gaulle would only last until Sunday night (October 17).
    Some passengers at Charles de Gaulle were unconvinced that the risk of disruption would impact on flights.
    "No, it doesn't scare me because I think we've got what they call reserves. So it doesn't scare me," said Lucien, a passenger.
    In a move to ease tight supplies, the French government released some of its strategic petroleum reserve.
    Others are critical of the extent of the strikes.
    "I work in the private sector and I don't think I've ever obtained anything through those means. There are people who go on strike who are in the private sector, but I just don't think it's the good solution," said Guillame, another passenger.
    "To block an entire country to obtain something, I'm not sure it's the good way to obtain results," added his wife, Mathilde.
    The strikes are motivated by a government pensions reform plan set to come in effect by 2018 which will raise minimum retirement age from 60 to 62.
    Addressing the threat to fuel supplies, aerospace analysts advised methods airlines could use to overcome shortages in Paris. This included short and medium-haul flights stocking enough fuel to leave again prior to arrival, and longer-haul flights filling up at Orly before flying to Charles de Gaulle.
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