French pilots set to strike next week over plans to raise flight ticket taxes
Single day of action may be followed by future strikes, union warns
Domestic and international flights are likely to be impacted
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France’s largest pilot union has filed a strike motion for next Thursday (November 14) in protest over plans by the government to increase the solidarity tax on airline ticket sales.
The one-day strike may cause serious disruption for passengers travelling in and out of France.
However, as air traffic controllers are not set to join (no union representing them has filed a motion of action for this day), flights over French airspace are unlikely to be affected.
The Syndicat national des pilotes de lignes (SNPL) is the largest union of pilots in the country, and is urging all of its workers to go on strike.
It said further strike action may take place if the government does not reverse its plans to increase taxes on tickets sold by airline companies.
‘Thousands of job losses’
“There has been no consultation with the industry, and no impact study to analyse the economic and social consequences of this measure,” the union said.
“Tens of thousands of job losses in France,” could be the result of the taxes, as in its view, airlines have still not fully recovered from the Covid pandemic.
“This social disaster will go hand in hand with the weakening of French operators or those operating regularly in France… with the added risk of a real reduction in the economic and tourist appeal of our country,” the union added.
Further strike action from pilots – and potentially others in the sector – if the government does not cancel the tax is likely, the union hinted.
Currently, the government is planning to increase the solidarity tax airlines pay based on the distance of a flight.
It should raise around €1 billion a year.
Read more: Planned French air travel tax hike will push up ticket prices, say easyJet
