Pilots to strike for their right to strike
France’s biggest pilots’ union has called on members to join a month-long strike throughout May which is likely to cause widespread disruption, especially for Air France passengers.
The SNPL France Alpa union is calling on members to walk-out for set periods of each day from May 3 to 30.
In a statement, Air France said the fixed timings chosen by the union to stop work each day, from 03:45 to 05:45 GMT and from 10:45 to 13:45 GMT, "are particularly penalising for Air France and its customers".
It said the early morning work stoppage would disrupt medium-haul flights and the afternoon strike would affect long-haul departures.
Connections at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris would also be badly hit, said the airline.
"To avoid this situation and out of respect for its customers, Air France will be forced to cancel the majority of flights operated by striking pilots. Only a very limited number of flights will be rescheduled," it said.
The union is calling for industrial action because it’s unhappy at a new law that forces pilots to give airlines 48-hours notice of any strike action, giving the companies time to draft in pilots from other airlines or to notify passengers of cancellations.
The union wants the law repealed so that future strikes will have their intended effect of causing maximum disruption.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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