Friday, June 7, 2024 British tourists planning to travel through Paris Orly Airport between June 11 and 13 should brace themselves for significant disruptions. The union UNSA-ICNA has announced a new wave of strikes by air traffic controllers, which could severely impact flights at one of France’s busiest airports. This announcement comes just weeks after a similar strike led to the cancellation of 70 percent of flights at Orly, marking another potential ‘black day’ for travelers.
The impending strike is currently limited to Paris Orly and does not extend to other French airports. However, the possibility of overflight disruptions, which affect flights passing through French airspace without landing, remains uncertain. In past instances, strikes by French air traffic controllers have caused widespread cancellations and delays across Europe, prompting calls from airlines like Ryanair for the European Union to implement measures protecting overflights during such strikes.
Each year, more than 2.5 million flights pass through French airspace. Consequently, any disruption to overflights can cascade into a travel nightmare for countless passengers across Europe.
The French air travel industry has seen significant industrial actions over the past 18 months, contributing to repeated chaos and cancellations. For instance, the strike on April 25 was so disruptive that French media dubbed it a ‘black day’ for local airports and travelers. This new wave of strikes in France is.
