French Strikes Expected to Impact Air Traffic
FRANCE, BTNp: THE AIR Traffic Controllers have confirmed their participation in the following scheduled strike action, which is expected to affect trains and public transportation. This results in more delays and cancellations expected to occur on Thursday (April 13), SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
During these strikes, there could be a 20 to 25 per cent reduction in flights from several French airports, while Air France plans to operate its long-haul schedule and flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport. Nearly eight out of ten of the other flights operated by this airline can be affected by cancellations or delays, representing 20 per cent of all flights.
“The flight schedule is being updated, and customers affected by cancelled flights will be notified individually by SMS, e-mail, or via the Air France application. Commercial measures allow customers whose flight is cancelled to anticipate or postpone their trip free of charge or to obtain a voucher or a full refund in the event that they no longer travel,” Air France wrote in an announcement.
Workers in the public sector in France have been protesting in recent months against the proposed change to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years in order for workers to collect a full pension.
Most flights have been operated, but there have been delays and cancellations, and the authorities remind passengers that plan to fly to, from, through and over France to check their flight status frequently.
Passengers caught in this strike can be refunded under the EU’s EC 261/2004, which applies to all flights from the European Economic Areas as well as the EU and community carriers’ flights outside the union. Passengers can be refunded if their flight is cancelled or delayed, even if they have a non-refundable ticket. Airlines are also obligated to rebook affected passengers to their destination as soon as they can, and rebooking them on other airlines is also an option. Significantly delayed passengers are also eligible for airline-paid accommodation and meals.
Like France, other European countries have dealt with disruptions and delays, especially in the last weekend, ahead of the Easter holiday. German railway transport workers have joined the strike, causing planes, trains, and buses in the country to be standstill for 24 hours.
Similarly, border control officers in Portugal warned of a strike, including train workers, ahead of the Easter holidays, while the country was expecting thousands of visitors, especially from the United Kingdom. *BTNewspaper
