Air France has decided to cancel 55% of its short and medium-haul flights and 10% of its long-haul flights scheduled for Friday, due to a strike by French air traffic controllers, the company announced in a press release, Wednesday September 14 . “Last minute delays and cancellations cannot be ruled out”adds Air France, stressing that customers whose flights will be canceled will be informed “individually by SMS and e-mail”.
Air France is thus complying with a request from the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), which called on airlines to give up half of their flight program on Friday. This decision was taken on Tuesday following a strike notice launched by the National Union of Air Traffic Controllers (SNCTA) and concerns both metropolitan France and overseas.
A second notice for the end of September
For Air France, this represents around four hundred flights canceled out of eight hundred scheduled for Friday, according to the company, which “strongly recommends its customers to postpone their trip”.
“Commercial measures that can be consulted on [le site Internet d’Air France] allow anticipation or postponement free of charge, and, for customers whose flight is cancelled, a credit note or a full refund in the event that they no longer travel”said Air France.
“Air France regrets this move and is doing everything to limit its impact on its customers. All the company’s teams are mobilized to assist them in their efforts.”assured the company again.
The SNCTA, the majority organization among air traffic controllers, decided on this movement to demand salary increases to compensate for inflation as well as recruitment.
In addition to Friday’s day of action, the union announced the filing of“a second notice, from Wednesday September 28 to Friday September 30, 2022 inclusive”.