Chaos in the Skies: UK Foreign Office Issues Urgent Warning to Brits Amid Unprecedented European Airport Strike
So, it looks like tens of thousands of air passengers are about to get a not-so-welcome surprise in the coming weeks — flight cancellations and delays, all thanks to France’s big air traffic control union gearing up for strikes. SNCTA, the main union, is punching the clock from October 7 through October 10, demanding a pay hike to keep up with inflation. You might think it’s just flights in and out of France that’ll feel the pinch—but nope! Overflights, the ones who just skim the skies, could be hit the hardest. And here’s a kicker: these strikes sneak up on airlines like a bad plot twist since controllers only confirm two days ahead whether they’re working, meaning cancellations get dropped last-minute. If you’ve got a trip to the Mediterranean or even just a flight cruising over France lined up, brace yourself. The chaos could make your travel plans feel like a game of roulette. Curious how deep this rabbit hole goes? LEARN MORE.
Tens of thousands of air passengers are expected to face flight cancellations and delays in coming weeks, after France’s main air traffic control union announced planned strikes.
SNCTA is planning to strike ‘from the start of duty on the morning of 7 October until the end of night duty on the morning of the 10 October’, as the union calls for increased wages to reflect inflation.
Earlier this year, two smaller unions representing air traffic controllers went on strike, which caused more than 3,000 flight cancellations affecting as many as 50,000 passengers. With SNCTA representing a greater number of controllers, the impact of the upcoming strike is expected affect even more air travellers.
Of all the flights that were able to continue, one in nine experienced delays by an average of 41 minutes.
Tens of thousands of passengers will be affected (TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Who will be affected by the strikes?
While you might assume that flights going in and out of France would face the most disruption, it’s actually overflights that seem to be most impacted. During the previous strikes, the two worst affected airports were Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona.
British holidaymakers are expected to be impacted by the strikes as the majority of flights travelling from the UK to locations in the Mediterranean travel over France on route, though many cancellations will likely not be made until the last minute.
The reason being that controllers will only say whether they will work two days in advance, therefore those striking will announce on 6 October that they will not be working on 8 October, during which time, instructions will be sent to airlines on the afternoon of 7 October. This pattern will continue day by day as the strike continues.
The 72-hour strike could cost the aviation business millions (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Therefore, airlines are often in the dark about how many cancellations they will need to make until the day before, preventing them from making plans earlier.
UK Foreign Office warning
British travellers have been given a warning from the UK Foreign Office ahead of the strikes, citing possible disruption to travel.
“Calls for strike action and demonstrations across France on Thursday 2 October may cause disruption to travel,” the warning reads.
“Monitor local news and check for messaging from your travel provider about any potential delays.”
Ryanair’s CEO has blasted the strikes (Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has once again called on European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to protect overflights from strikes like these.
“If President von ‘Derlayed-Again’ won’t protect overflights during national ATC strikes, then she should step aside and let someone competent do the job,” he said.
“Europe needs reform and competitiveness. We don’t need useless politicians promising reform but doing nothing. Passengers flying from London to Rome or Brussels to Madrid shouldn’t be held hostage every time there’s a national ATC strike.”
LADbible has contacted the European Commission for comment.
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