Flights to and from Spain cancelled amid French strike
Air passengers travelling to and from France faced more disruption on Monday as the second day of a French air traffic controllers strike saw more flights cancelled and delayed.
On Monday morning reports from France stated that the number of flights cancelled was worse than initially expected, with flights to and from Spain among those affected.
Barcelona's El Prat airport has cancelled 54 flights flying to France or over French airspace, Spanish daily La Vanguardia confirmed on Monday.
Flights affected include those run by operator Vueling, the airline confirmed in a tweet.
Consulta el listado de vuelos afectados por la huelga de Francia 20-21/3 y las alternativas https://t.co/Of60ABwQmS sentimos las molestias
— Vueling Airlines (@vueling) March 20, 2016
A number of Ryanair flights both to and from Spain have been cancelled, including out of Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Mallorca, Tenerife, Madrid, Santander, Lanzarote and Girona.
Dozens of flights scheduled to arrive in Spain on Monday have also been cancelled.
The link in the Ryanair tweet below contains information about the status of Ryanair flights while passengers can CLICK HERE for a link to the easyJet flight tracker.
1/2 Due to a French ATC strike, we regret a number of flights are cancelled (Monday 21 March) Further info here: https://t.co/zV75hOu700
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
2/2 Further delays are likely. View live flight info: https://t.co/IBMzS28q2m. Apologies to those affected by this French ATC strike
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
Industrial action in France is affecting some flights today. Please check your flight status here https://t.co/PM5NGucVBT [06:23 20MAR]
— British Airways (@British_Airways) March 20, 2016
For their part Air France says long haul flights will be guaranteed as will the airline's flights in and out of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
Monday’s disruptions follow on from the first day of industrial action on Sunday, which saw hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled.
A huge number of flights between the UK and France were hit by the strike.
A spokesman for easyJet confirmed that 82 flights were cancelled on Sunday as a result of the strikes, including 32 scheduled to take off or land at British airports
Air traffic controllers are unhappy about the lack of resources and complain the technology they use is outdated.
Unions complain that the number of air traffic controllers is falling despite the amount of air traffic actually increasing. They claim controllers retiring are not being replaced.
They also raised the alarm bells about the outdated technology available to them that frequently breaks down and has a direct impact on security.
They call upon France’s aviation authorities at the DGAC to make the necessary investments, “that they can no longer put off”.
But airlines are fed up with the number of strikes held by French air traffic controllers and want action taken to prevent them being able to cause constant travel chaos.
Ryanair are leading the fight and are once again calling on passengers to sign a petition to help bring an end to the strikes.
Today's the 42nd French ATC strike since 2009. Sign our petition & help stop these ATC strikes ruining YOUR plans https://t.co/9TEuKK1fUK
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
Ryanair says that when a million people have signed the petition, named Keep Europe's Skies Open, it will be presented to the European Commission and used to pressure authorities into action.
Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said previously: “It’s unacceptable that Europe’s consumers repeatedly have their holiday and travel plans disrupted or cancelled by the selfish actions of ATC unions every summer, who use strikes as a first weapon rather than a last resort.
"If the EU won’t listen to the airlines, perhaps they’ll listen to Europe’s citizens.”
Comments
See Also
On Monday morning reports from France stated that the number of flights cancelled was worse than initially expected, with flights to and from Spain among those affected.
Barcelona's El Prat airport has cancelled 54 flights flying to France or over French airspace, Spanish daily La Vanguardia confirmed on Monday.
Flights affected include those run by operator Vueling, the airline confirmed in a tweet.
Consulta el listado de vuelos afectados por la huelga de Francia 20-21/3 y las alternativas https://t.co/Of60ABwQmS sentimos las molestias
— Vueling Airlines (@vueling) March 20, 2016
A number of Ryanair flights both to and from Spain have been cancelled, including out of Alicante, Valencia, Barcelona, Mallorca, Tenerife, Madrid, Santander, Lanzarote and Girona.
Dozens of flights scheduled to arrive in Spain on Monday have also been cancelled.
The link in the Ryanair tweet below contains information about the status of Ryanair flights while passengers can CLICK HERE for a link to the easyJet flight tracker.
1/2 Due to a French ATC strike, we regret a number of flights are cancelled (Monday 21 March) Further info here: https://t.co/zV75hOu700
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
2/2 Further delays are likely. View live flight info: https://t.co/IBMzS28q2m. Apologies to those affected by this French ATC strike
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
Industrial action in France is affecting some flights today. Please check your flight status here https://t.co/PM5NGucVBT [06:23 20MAR]
— British Airways (@British_Airways) March 20, 2016
For their part Air France says long haul flights will be guaranteed as will the airline's flights in and out of Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
Monday’s disruptions follow on from the first day of industrial action on Sunday, which saw hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled.
A huge number of flights between the UK and France were hit by the strike.
A spokesman for easyJet confirmed that 82 flights were cancelled on Sunday as a result of the strikes, including 32 scheduled to take off or land at British airports
Air traffic controllers are unhappy about the lack of resources and complain the technology they use is outdated.
Unions complain that the number of air traffic controllers is falling despite the amount of air traffic actually increasing. They claim controllers retiring are not being replaced.
They also raised the alarm bells about the outdated technology available to them that frequently breaks down and has a direct impact on security.
They call upon France’s aviation authorities at the DGAC to make the necessary investments, “that they can no longer put off”.
But airlines are fed up with the number of strikes held by French air traffic controllers and want action taken to prevent them being able to cause constant travel chaos.
Ryanair are leading the fight and are once again calling on passengers to sign a petition to help bring an end to the strikes.
Today's the 42nd French ATC strike since 2009. Sign our petition & help stop these ATC strikes ruining YOUR plans https://t.co/9TEuKK1fUK
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 21, 2016
Ryanair says that when a million people have signed the petition, named Keep Europe's Skies Open, it will be presented to the European Commission and used to pressure authorities into action.
Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said previously: “It’s unacceptable that Europe’s consumers repeatedly have their holiday and travel plans disrupted or cancelled by the selfish actions of ATC unions every summer, who use strikes as a first weapon rather than a last resort.
"If the EU won’t listen to the airlines, perhaps they’ll listen to Europe’s citizens.”
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.