During a mobilization against the pension reform, on February 16, near Nantes airport. SEBASTIEN SALOM-GOMIS / AFP
One in five flights will be canceled at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, and up to 30% at many airports, such as Orly, Nice, Lyon or Nantes and Marseille.
The first forecasts of disturbances caused by the social movement against the pension reform are known. This Thursday, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) indicated that the traffic would be “disrupted on departure and arrival» many airports in France. Difficulties are expected from the evening of March 6, until “Thursday, March 9 at 6 a.m.“, specifies the administration.
In detail, one in five flights will be canceled at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle, and 30% will be canceled at the airports of Nice, Beauvais, Orly, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nantes, Marseille, Montpellier and Toulouse. In addition to these cancellations requested by the administration, “however, disruptions and delays are to be expected“, specifies the DGAC in a press release. The authorities therefore ask passengers who can to “postpone their trip“, or to inquire with their company, to know if their plane is maintained.
In a press release, the DGAC inter-union – bringing together UsacCGT, Unsa Civil Aviation, CFDT Civil Aviation and Force Ouvrière – called for “put France on hold on March 7“, in order to make the executive back down. “The government and the President of the Republic remain deaf and degrade the social cohesion of the country by still refusing to withdraw this unjust project“, denounced the organizations, which filed a strike notice covering March 7 and 8, “as well as overnight stays upstream and downstream for agents working staggered hours“. Similarly, refuellers, who are responsible for supplying aircraft with fuel, are called to strike by the CGT.
Read alsoCan the renewable strike of March 7 cause a fuel shortage?
Major disruptions expected in transport
Like many sectors, such as rail or energy, the air sector will therefore be disrupted by the mobilization against government projects. During the last days of mobilization against the reform, strong disturbances had already been noted. In anticipation of February 16, the DGAC had asked the companies to cancel 20% of the movements planned at the airports of Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon, Montpellier and Nantes, and 30% at Paris-Orly.
The organizations opposed to the plans of the executive intend to harden the movement, until the withdrawal of the text. The unions have thus called for a renewable strike at the RATP as well as at the SNCF, in order to paralyze transport. On Thursday, five branches of the CGT also warned the government, saying they wanted to disrupt the economy, even the “kneel“.