Airports are a scene of mayhem. Many French airports will be affected by strikes for wages this weekend, including Charles-de-Gaulle near Paris and Orly close to Paris. There may also be cancellations or delays due to the key to a week-long summer school holiday.
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, these social movements will lead to 17% of flights being cancelled between 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. in a context of high inflation and a clear recovery of traffic after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“While the peak season of the summer has not yet started, these disruptions raise concerns of the worst for holidays and travel for French men and women”, deplore the Travel Companies (EDV), Syndicat Tour-operating Companies (Seto), and the APST (the Guarantee Fund for Travel Agents).
They lament that “the first problem is the cancellation of large numbers of flights by certain airlines” which “results on postponements” which reduce the time on-site for foreign and French holidaymakers, but also “a dead loss or extra work for operators trips.”
The French, noting that the airlines don’t respect the seven-day deadline for refunds, find themselves in an economic impasse to organize a new vacation project when postponement is impossible, denounce tour operators. They also complain about “difficulties encountered security checkpoints at the airports, which force travel operators to bring customers three hours before departing.” This could be attributed to the fact that control services are understaffed.
Numerous strikes are underway or planned at French airports including Charles-de-Gaulle near Paris. The key to delays or cancellations of flights is one week before the summer school holiday.
