Popular holiday destination to face travel mayhem as strikes announced, check if your plans will be affected

Holiday makers heading off to Europe for the festive period have already been warned that Madrid is under a ‘black level’ alert because of fears of overcrowding. Now, another piece of bad news has been released, affecting those who are planning on travelling to and from France. Air Traffic Controllers are striking, and this is throwing airport operations into disarray.

Some flights have already been called off. On Thursday 14 December, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) asked airlines to cancel 30 percent of their flights at Paris-Orly airport and 50 percent at Brest today, on Monday 18 December. However, knock-on disruption and delays are expected.

Disruption and delays

The GGAC announced in a press release that there will be further disruption following these cancellations:

Despite these preventive measures, disruptions and delays are nevertheless to be expected

passengers who are able to do so to postpone their journey

Air Traffic Controllers play a major role in the functioning of an airport, overseeing the safe and efficient movement of air traffic in the air and on the ground. Several trade unions have given notice of strike action for staff at the CRNA Nord centre, which manages the air traffic over France.

Staff are up in arms about a reform that would require them to declare individually whether they are going on strike or not 48 hours in advance. This rule is already in place for the French rail services, RATP and SNCF.

The affected areas

According to the DGAC, advance notice has also been given for the approach control centres at the following airports: Paris-Orly, Lyon, Lille, Brest, Rouen, Poitiers and Saint-Yan.

In order to limit the disruption as much as possible, civil aviation will be running a stripped back service. Teams will ‘apply the minimum service provisions’ where ‘regulations allow’, i.e. at CRNA-Nord, Paris-Orly, Lyon and Poitiers.

With an estimated 5 million Brits leaving the UK over Christmas this year, France remains a popular destination given its proximity, better weather and world-renowned food. With the busiest day for travelling announced in the UK, there is set to be disruption on the roads and trains as well as the airports.

Hopefully, all of this will be a distant memory once we finally get home and are finishing up the final touches to the Christmas decorations and dinner.

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Sources used:

Express: Holiday destinations plunged into chaos as Air Traffic Controllers go on strike

Express: Five million Britons packing to get away for Christmas getaway