Airlines in Europe and North Africa are grappling with disruptions to their scheduled operations to Paris-Orly (ORY) due to ongoing nationwide strike action in France.
Inside Declaration The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM), published on January 29, 2023, announced that there will be a nationwide two-day industrial strike in France from January 30 to February 1, 2023.
DGCA announced that air traffic to and from Paris-Orly will be interrupted and passengers and airlines should expect cancellations and delays. DGCA also asked airlines to reduce their flight schedules by 20% during the strike action.
Since the strike action began, airlines such as Air France, Ryanair, easyJet and Royal Air Maroc have all announced reduced services or interruptions to their operations in and out of Paris-Orly.
Air France cuts short and medium-haul flights by 10%
In response to the SHGM’s strike warning, Air France announced that it will shorten its program and operate 90% of its short and medium-haul flights.
The airline stressed that it would operate “all long-haul flights”, but urged passengers to be wary of last-minute delays and cancellations.
Ryanair cancels flights, calls on EU commission to protect top flights during strikes
Ryanair issued a statement explaining that it “had to cancel a small number of round-trip flights to France” on January 31, 2023, due to the French Air Traffic Control (ATC) strike.
“While the French Government is using the minimum service policy to protect France, it is inexplicable that the EU Commission remains silent and ignores the widespread impact of these French ATC attacks on EU travelers to and from France. Domestic flights for French citizens,” said Ryanair’s Neal McMahon.
“Ryanair has once again called on the EU Commission, led by Ursula Von Der Leyen, to take urgent action to protect European citizens traveling from countries such as Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom, whose travel plans will be unnecessarily disrupted by today (31 January) calling. To the repeated inaction of the EU Commission to protect top-flights when the French ATC went on strike,” McMahon added.
Royal Air Maroc cancels flights to Paris-Orly airport
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has also joined the list of airlines forced to shorten their schedules due to the strike action in France.
“Following the public service strike announcement in France on January 31, 2023, all airlines have been asked to reduce their daily flight schedules at Paris-Orly airport, and Royal Air Maroc is supporting its customers by transferring to other flights,” RAM said. in a statement made by Morocco World News.
easyJet informs passengers about disruptions during industrial action
easyJet announced on its website that it expects flights to and from French airports to be affected by the national strike in France, which was also attended by Air Traffic Control staff.
easyJet also advised travelers to be wary of delays in public transport services, advising passengers to “allow plenty of extra time to get to the airport and consider alternative transportation options”.
The national strike is part of ongoing protests in France against the French government’s planned reform, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.
