France: Unionized air traffic controllers plan 24-hour strike nationwide, April 25-26 /update 1

Unionized air traffic controllers (ATC) plan to stage a nationwide 24-hour strike 04:00 April 25-04:00 April 26. The SNCTA (National Syndicate of Air Traffic Controllers) has called for industrial action to denounce the progress of negotiations with the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC), over the restructuring of services.

The impact on flight operations is likely to be more severe than for recent ATC strikes. As of April 24, authorities are planning to cancel significant numbers of flights during the strike period including (in order of scheduled flight operations):

• Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 65 percent of flights to be canceled.

• Paris-Orly (ORY): 75 percent canceled.

• Nice (NCE): 60-70 percent canceled.

• Lyon (LYS): 50 percent canceled.

• Toulouse (TLS): 60 percent canceled.

• Marseille (MRS): 65 percent canceled.

Flight disruptions are likely across France during the period of the strike. Airport passenger processing delays are possible at all airports. Striking workers may form pickets at airport entrances. Disruptions may continue in the hours following the industrial action, as services return to normal.