French air traffic control strikes: ATC strike dates in September 2023 and how they affect travel to France
Following the major mishap in air traffic control (ATC) in the UK towards the conclusion of August, which impacted a massive number of travelers commuting to and from the country, it seems probable that there will be more flight interruptions this month.
The primary organization that represents French air traffic control employees, referred to as the Syndicat National des Contrôleurs du Trafic Aérien (SNCTA), has requested a strike to take place on the 15th of September. This may lead to interruptions for flights on that day, along with the 14th and 16th of September. In the event of the strike proceeding, it is possible that airlines may have to cancel certain flights that pass over French territories, therefore, resulting in consequent delays. Another day of planned industrial action is scheduled for the 13th of October.
The strike is planned to happen at the same time as the Rugby World Cup, which will be held in France. This will cause disruptions for people traveling to cities hosting the games, including Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Lyon, and Paris.
On Thursday 14 September, a football match between France and Uruguay will take place in Villeneuve-d’Ascq. The next day, on Friday 15 September, New Zealand is scheduled to compete against Namibia in Toulouse. On Saturday 16 September, Wales will play against Portugal in Nice, and Ireland against Tonga in Nantes while Samoa will face off against Chile in Bordeaux.
The SNCTA labor union is protesting the impact of inflation on the payments of its employees, who have already gone on strike more than 50 times this year. One company that has spoken out against the continuing French air traffic control strikes is the Irish airline Ryanair. These strikes have led to the cancellation of numerous flights.
Ryanair submitted a proposal to the European Commission requesting safeguarding measures for all flights that cross through airspace, and a policy that would enforce a notification period of three weeks in advance for any industrial action. The airline alleges that France is selectively applying their minimum service law to protect exclusively its domestic flights, while leaving "overflights" - flights that use French airspace to transit to and from other locations - at the mercy of the cancellations. Greece and Italy have implemented protections for overflight operations during labor disputes. Ryanair states that the company has canceled in excess of 4,000 flights due to French air traffic control strikes so far this year.
Flight Disruption: Your Entitlements
Airline companies cannot provide compensation to passengers if their flight gets disrupted by strikes of French Air Traffic Control because it is something that is not under their control.
In case a flight gets cancelled, you have the right to either receive a full refund within seven days of the travel date or get redirected to your intended destination. The alternative route should be equivalent or better than the original airline choice. If the replacement flight is not suitable, you can arrange an alternative yourself and later claim the reasonable costs from the airline.
When flights are delayed at the airport, passengers who are waiting for flights up to 1,500km should be given a fair amount of food and drinks. They should also be allowed to make phone calls and send emails. If the flight is delayed overnight, passengers should be provided with accommodations. The delay threshold for flights over 1,500km is three hours, and for flights over 3,500km, it is four hours. If the flight is delayed for over five hours, passengers are allowed to cancel their flight and get a refund.
