FRANCE: Air travellers fear chaos as Air France cabin crew strike on one of the busiest weekends of the year

Record ID: 340551

  • Title: FRANCE: Air travellers fear chaos as Air France cabin crew strike on one of the busiest weekends of the year
  • Date: 30th October 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PASSENGER JULIAN FROM CANADA, SAYING: "Now the flight is delayed. I don't know when I'll get there." MORE OF PASSENGERS WAITING WITH LUGGAGE TROLLEYS (SOUNDBITE) (French) PASSENGER GWEN SAYING: "For now, no. As long as that lasts, we'll see." PASSENGERS WALKING INSIDE TERMINAL VARIOUS OF AIR FRANCE PLANES PARKED ON TARMAC
  • Embargoed: 14th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France, France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Economy,Employment,Politics,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA7MBJVZCMLTMXGZ6JRSLO9DPIW
  • Story Text: Air France cancelled 10 long-haul flights and warned of wider disruption as a five-day strike by flight attendants over job terms and conditions began on Saturday (October 29), in the middle of a busy holiday weekend.
    The strike seemed to have little impact on passengers in Paris.
    Most flights were showing as on time although there were some minor delays.
    "Now the flight is delayed. I don't know when I'll get there," said Julian, from Canada, who was travelling to Bucharest and had been unaware of the strike before arriving at the airport.
    But many found that their journey was unaffected - for now at least.
    "For now, no. As long as that lasts, we'll see," said passenger Gwen, travelling to Nairobi.
    The French airline said ahead of the strike that it hoped to ensure about 80 percent of flights departed as normal.
    In a statement posted on its website, the carrier said that it had cancelled flights to New York, Tokyo, Montreal and several other destinations, adding: "we do not rule out other last-minute cancellations and delays."
    Several unions are urging cabin staff to strike until the end of Wednesday, raising the prospect of serious disruption during what is a busy travel period.
    Tuesday, Nov. 1 is a public holiday in France and many people take Monday off to extend the weekend break. It also falls during the mid-term school holidays.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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