Due to a strike call launched by the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA, majority), Friday looks complicated in the French sky. At least a thousand flights have been canceled, delays are feared and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) has issued calls not to travel. This movement of air traffic controllers in France risks disrupting European traffic.
The signalmen are demanding wage increases in the face of inflation but also an acceleration in recruitment. This concerns both metropolitan France and the overseas territories. Consequently, the DGAC asked the companies to give up half of their flight program on Friday, i.e. “around 1,000 flights canceled” on departure or arrival from French territory.
Repercussions on all European air traffic
Despite the establishment of a minimum service, “flight cancellations and significant delays are to be expected nationwide“, warned the DGAC. She invited “passengers who can postpone their trip and check with their airline to find out the status of their flight“. This strike could also have repercussions on all European air traffic. The administration has indicated that it is working “with the European network manager (Eurocontrol) in order to offer airlines measures to circumvent national airspace“.
The minimum service will notably concern airports and the five air navigation en route centers (CRNA), which control aircraft transiting through French airspace and flying at an altitude of more than 6,000 meters.. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by number of aircraft movements, said the strike “unjustified“was going to compel her to”cancel 420 flights (i.e. 80,000 passengers) flying mainly over France“Friday, without necessarily landing there.
Retirement of a third of air traffic controllers in 2029 and 2035
The SNCTA stressed that it had decided on this movement to express its concern “about the current level of inflation as well as upcoming recruitments“.”While the 2023 finance bill, currently being drafted, arrives before Parliament in October, the absence of guarantees from the DGAC and the public authorities is unacceptable“, added the union. These professionals are particularly alarmed by the planned retirement of one-third of Air Navigation Control (ICNA) engineers between 2029 and 2035.
Gold, “at least five years separate recruitment from qualification” and training capabilities are “structurally limited“. We must therefore, according to them, anticipate this “departure wall” as of next year, and budget for training in this direction. This notice was maintained after “conciliation talks“at the beginning of the week, during which”no response (has been) provided by the DGAC and the public authorities“, according to the union, which speaks of “provocation“. SNCTA announced the filing.”a second notice from Wednesday September 28 to Friday September 30, 2022 inclusive“.
Air France cancels 55% of its short and medium-haul flights
Complying with the requests of the DGAC, Air France decided to cancel about 400 of its 800 scheduled flights on Friday. This will represent 55% of short and medium-haul flights, while long-haul flights will be less affected, with one in ten flights removed. “Last-minute delays and cancellations cannot be ruled out.“, clarified Air France, stressing that “customers affected by canceled flights will be notified individually“.
Air France, which “strongly recommends its customers to postpone their trip“, allowed them to anticipate or postpone their trip “free of charge“, and offered, “for customers whose flight is cancelled, a credit note or a full refund in the event that they no longer travel“.
Multiple social conflicts have erupted in recent weeks in the European aviation sector against a backdrop of record inflation. At the end of June and beginning of July, hundreds of flights had to be canceled at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport due to a strike by employees of the manager, Groupe ADP. On Wednesday, the company separately announced that it would grant a 5% salary increase to all its employees, together with a bonus of 1,000 euros, in response to the increase in the cost of living.