On Thursday morning, there were fewer planes in the sky due to a strike by air traffic controllers in France. Despite a last-minute agreement with the main union, airlines requested flight cancellations to manage the situation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported that there were only 2,250 flights scheduled for the day, compared to the usual 5,200.
In order to match staff with traffic, French civil aviation asked companies to cancel a significant number of flights. The cancellation rates varied across different airports: three out of four flights in Paris-Orly, 55% in Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle, 65% in Marseille-Provence, and 45% in other airports in mainland France.
Although there was hope for an easing of constraints on airlines after the agreement with the main union, disruptions continued since three other air traffic controllers unions had maintained their strike notice. For the flights that were not canceled, delays were moderate, with Orly airport being the most affected.
The strike also had consequences on flights flying over French territory, with delays being described as light to moderate according to Eurocontrol. Airlines in Europe expressed concern about the impact on passengers and flight schedules.
Overall, the strike had a significant impact on air travel in France, leading to cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers. The situation was closely monitored by aviation authorities to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.