A last-minute strike by air traffic controllers has left all flights from one Parisian airport grounded today (June 6).
Flights to and from Paris Beauvais – one of Ryanair’s French hubs and the only Paris airport it serves – were affected by the strike, with around 60 flights cancelled.
The airport’s air traffic control tower has been completely closed by the strike, with no workers inside.
Ryanair apologised for the impact on travellers on their website, saying it “sincerely apologises to the passengers concerned for the inconvenience caused by this umpteenth strike by French air traffic control, which is beyond our control.”
Passengers have been invited to contact Ryanair, to either receive a refund or look at possible re-routing options.
The Irish low-cost carrier recently announced they would leave Bordeaux-Mérignac airport after a row regarding increased basing rights for its aircraft there.
The French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction générale de l'aviation civile, or DGAC) announced the cancellations in a post on X (formerly Twitter) earlier.
— Direction générale de l'aviation civile 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@DGAC) June 5, 2024
It said that some flights may have the option of being able to land at other airports during the strike action.
It comes after workers from the Unsa-Icna union – the second-largest representative of air traffic controllers – filed a strike motion for next week between June 11 - 13, which is set to heavily impact Paris Orly airport.
The largest air traffic control union, the SNCTA, recently re-entered negotiations with the DGAC, and accepted an agreement at the end of April, after which they have not filed any strike motions.
Other unions, including Unsa-Icna and the CGT (the third-largest union representing controllers) did not accept these renegotiated terms, however, and have gone on strike numerous times.
This included on May 25 when around 70% of flights to and from Paris Orly were cancelled by a powerful strike.
The SNCTA has not condoned any action since rejoining the negotiating table, and has urged controllers to not strike.
Disagreements revolve around new and increased responsibilities for air traffic controllers envisioned by the DGAC during the reviewing of the job role.
Last year, all air traffic control unions promised an ‘Olympic Truce’, where they would not engage in any action immediately before or during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
However, this now seems in jeopardy, with multiple unions continuing to file strike motions in the weeks leading up to the Games, which begin on July 26 when the Opening Ceremony takes place.
