Updated on 25 April at 10am.
Will the strike that was due to paralyse French skies on Thursday 25 April be as extensive as announced? The SNCTA (Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien - National Union of Air Traffic Controllers) had in fact called for a 24-hour strike, in protest at a new version deemed "unacceptable" of a protocol currently being negotiated with the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC). According to DGAC forecasts, the strike would result in the cancellation of 75 % flights this Thursday at Paris Orly and 65 % at Paris-CDG and Marseille, 70% at Nice and 60 % at Toulouse. The strike could also have affected the Ascension holiday, from 8 to 10 May.
However, an agreement reached during the night led the majority controllers' union to terminate notice. Hence the downward revision of the disruptions envisaged by the DGAC. " Given the extremely tight deadline for this last-minute conciliation, any controller can cancel his prior declaration, even though the deadline of 6pm the day before has passed." said the union in a press release. It should be noted that two other unions had also called for action on 25 April.
In the end, not all the uncertainties have been resolved regarding the state of air traffic. The DGAC specifies that traffic will be disrupted on departure and arrival at all airports. particularly at Paris-Orly, Paris-CDG and Marseille" and urged travellers to check with their airline. Estimates point to three out of four flights cancelled at Paris-Orly, 55 % of cancellations at CDG and 65 % at Marseille-Provence, while traffic is expected to be reduced by 45 % at other French airports.
