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France air traffic controller strike over EU ‘Single Sky’

The controllers say the Single European Sky (SES) project will affect public safety and their working conditions.

Nearly half of all flights from France’s main airports were cancelled yesterday due to a walk-out by air traffic controllers. A total of 1,800 flights were cancelled out of around 7,650 scheduled yesterday and a similar number are expected to be affected today. Parisian airports have warned of major delays as the three-day strike began on Tuesday.

The controllers are protesting against the liberalisation of airspace under the Single European Sky project.

The secretary of the SNCTA air traffic controllers union, Philippe Biol, said: “The European Commission wants to cut costs and fees which are used to finance air traffic controllers in France. As a result, aviation revenues are decreasing today and means the technology that is needed cannot be bought.”

Speaking on Tuesday the EU Transport Commissioner asked for the plan to be sped up. The Commission claims that airspace inefficiencies cost airlines and passengers five billion euros per year. But the strike is also hitting wallets.

Stranded passengers could become a familiar sight over the next few days in EU airports with the strikes are expected to spread to the rest of the European Union.

According to the International Air Transport Association, which represents 241 scheduled carriers, the action saw 400,000 minutes of delays across Europe yesterday as flights were diverted onto alternative routes.

The disruption is likely to worsen today when the strike spreads to Belgium, Slovakia and Hungary, where other members of the European Transport Workers Federation will join the action.

Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general, accused the strikers of holding passengers hostage, saying: “Reducing delays, cutting emissions, and raising safety levels will create 320,000 jobs across Europe. And it can be achieved without air traffic control job losses. Strikes and industrial action are therefore totally unjustified.”

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Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

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