French air-traffic control strike: hundreds of flights cancelled

BA: 'Yet again this will unfortunately bring another wave of unnecessary disruption'

Simon Calder
Travel Correspondent
Tuesday 10 October 2017 11:46 BST
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Tens of thousands of airline passengers have been told their flights have been cancelled by the latest French air traffic control strikes. It began at 5pm British time on Monday and will continue until the early hours of Wednesday.

The main air-traffic controllers’ unions are stopping work as part of a national strike against the labour reform policies of President Emmanuel Macron.

Ryanair has cancelled over 220 flights, affecting about 40,000 passengers. While the cancellations are across western Europe, UK airports are particularly badly affected. Dozens of links from Stansted, Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh to France and Spain have been axed.

The airline said: "Unfortunately, further flight delays and cancellations are likely and customers are asked to please monitor this notice which will be updated throughout the day.

"Ryanair sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused by these unjustified ATC disruptions which are entirely outside of our control.

Its rival, easyJet, said: “As a large percentage of easyJet’s flights fly over France, this will have an impact on our flights to and from French airports, as well as those flying over French airspace.

“The strike is also expected to impact many public services in France, including public transport. We advise all passengers to allow plenty of extra time to get to the airport and consider alternative transport options where possible.”

British Airways has grounded its Monday evening departures from Heathrow to Marseille, Paris Orly and Toulouse, as well as Basel — which serves a Swiss city but is in French territory.

Many more cancellations are expected on Tuesday, including to cities in countries such as Spain and Italy, which normally fly over French airspace.

BA said: “Yet again this will unfortunately bring another wave of unnecessary disruption for some customers travelling in Europe.” It will be using larger aircraft on some flights to compensate for cancellations.

The airline is allowing anyone due to fly to or from any French airport, as well as Madrid and Barcelona, on Monday 9 or Tuesday 10 October, to move it back to a date up to and including Thursday 12 October.

Passengers whose flights are disrupted are not entitled to cash compensation, but airlines have a duty of care towards them — providing meals and accommodation until they can reach their destination. If airlines are not able to offer an alternative departure within a reasonable time, typically two days, they must pay for flights on other carriers.

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