One in two flights canceled in France over ATC strike

The French Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) is asking airlines to reduce their flight schedule by half on September 16, 2022, due to a planned air traffic controller strike for better pay.

“In order to limit traffic disruptions, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation will apply the provisions of minimum service in en-route air navigation centers and in airports,” the authority announced. It also warned that the strike may have consequences on all European air traffic and that it would coordinate with Eurocontrol to offer airlines alternatives to circumvent the French airspace.

The majority union of French air traffic controllers, the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA), called for a strike that day in mainland France and overseas.

“For several months, the SNCTA has been increasing discussions about the current level of inflation as well as future recruitments,” the union said in a statement. “After the historically low recruitment of 2021, public authorities must be aware of the unprecedented challenge ahead.”

In addition to September 16, the SNCTA announced the filing of “a second [strike] notice, from Wednesday, September 28 to Friday, September 30, 2022”.

Industrial action previously forced Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and Orly Airport (ORY) to cancel hundreds of flights in June 2022 after airport staff called for better pay and working conditions.