French aviation officials have asked airlines to cut their flights by 50 percent on Tuesday in anticipation of fuel shortages and possible strikes by airline workers.
French unions say they are planning another day of national protests and strikes tomorrow over pension reforms, extending the industrial action that shut down transportation last week.
Air France ground staff has been asked by the Confederation General du Travail labor union to strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, and to hold demonstrations at airports.
As a precaution, French civil aviation authorities have asked that half the incoming and outgoing flights at Paris Orly International Airport and a third of all flights in all other airports around the country be canceled.
Budget airline Ryanair has already canceled 250 flights into France and is asking the European Commission to take away the right to strike from air traffic controllers. Most airlines have yet to respond to the announcement. However, British Airways has warned passengers to expect “delays and disruption” to its services.
Last week, walkouts caused hundreds of flight cancellations around the country. Short-haul flights were especially hard hit, and will probably see more cancellation because of this week’s round of strikes.
Today, several short-haul flights were disrupted when refueling staff at Charles de Gaulle airport went on strike.
A greater threat to the France’s travel infrastructure, however, is the protest from French oil industry workers who are blocking access to oil refineries.
Strikes at 12 of France’s oil refineries have run the country dry. It is reported that as many as 1,000 gas stations, around a quarter of the country’s filling stations, have run out of fuel across the country.
On Saturday, it was feared that France's main international airport would run out of fuel today, but this morning the French transport minister insisted the pipeline to the airport was now working.
On the ground, industrial action is also continuing to disrupt rail travel as well. Half of France’s high-speed TGV trains were out of commission on Monday. Eurostar trains continue to run, but service to Brussels was shut down by a 24-hour rail strike in neighboring Belgium.
By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: The New York Times, BBC, Telegraph (UK)
Related Links at PeterGreenberg.com:
- European Travel section
- France & Belgium Travel section
- Striking French Workers Disrupt Flights, Trains
- France Becomes Latest To Issue Travel Warning As European Tourism Falls
- British Airways Crews Strike, More European Airline Strikes to Follow?
- Ask the Locals City Guide: Paris, France
- Off the Brochure Travel Guide: Paris, France
