The French civil aviation authority has mandated airlines to cancel 70 percent of flights at Paris Orly Airport on Saturday and Sunday due to an ongoing strike by air traffic controllers.
This significant disruption will affect commercial flights starting from 0400 GMT on Saturday and continuing until late Sunday, as announced by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).
The strike occurs as Paris Orly, France’s second busiest airport, gears up for a substantial influx of visitors for the upcoming Paris Olympics, set to commence on July 26.
This marks the second major strike by air traffic controllers within a month. The previous strike led to the cancellation of thousands of flights across Europe, severely impacting travel plans.
The earlier dispute concluded with an agreement between airport authorities and the primary union, the SNCTA. However, the current stoppage has been instigated by the second largest labor group, UNSA-ICNA, which argues that staffing levels are still insufficient to meet operational demands.
The union’s call for action highlights ongoing concerns about workforce adequacy and safety standards within the air traffic control sector.
This latest round of disruptions underscores the fragile state of labor relations in the aviation industry and the critical need for addressing workforce grievances to ensure smooth operations, especially with major international events like the Paris Olympics on the horizon.
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As passengers brace for cancellations and delays, the situation calls for swift resolution to mitigate further impact on air travel in and out of France.
The French government has condemned the air traffic controllers’ strike, expressing strong disapproval of the disruption it is causing. Deputy Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete criticized the actions of certain local agents, stating:
“I deplore the behavior of some local level agents who refuse to recognize the legitimacy of a majority accord and are making passengers pay the price,” he told AFP.
Orly Airport, located to the south of Paris, is the capital’s second-largest airport after Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle. Last year, Orly handled over 32 million passengers, making it a critical hub for both domestic and international travel.
The timing of this strike is particularly problematic, as it comes just weeks before Paris prepares to host the Olympics, which is expected to significantly increase the volume of travelers.