Air and rail misery affects thousands across Europe
Passengers heading to Europe this week could be hit by severe delays and cancellations due to strikes by both French air traffic controllers and the country’s rail operators.
Air traffic controllers walked out this morning and won’t return to their desks until Friday, prompting the cancellation of hundreds of flights to, from, and through France.
Services to other destinations that fly over France are also likely to be delayed.
All French domestic rail services also will be severely reduced from tomorrow evening, when workers on the national rail service SMCF start a strike at 8 p.m. local time. It will last until 8 a.m. on Friday.
Eurostar said its cross-Channel services should not be affected, but passengers transferring on to connecting services in France could be hit. Passengers have the option of exchanging their ticket for an alternative date within two months.
All airlines using French airports have been asked to cancel half of their services, but flights over France also will be affected.
The airline strike started at 6:00 a.m. French local time today and will continue until 5:59 a.m. on Friday, June 14.
British Airways said it will have "significant" cancellations affecting Paris, Nice, Lyon, and Toulouse airports.
In addition, BA warned, "Not only will there be cancellations to French flights but due to the large geographical area that France spreads, there will be delays across Europe."
Ticket-change fees have been waived for passengers travelling on BA and its partners, American Airlines and Iberia, on fights to, from, and through Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, and Toulouse.
Other major airlines are all offering refunds or cancelling change fees.
By TravelMole UK and TravelMole US
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