French ATC strikes 2017.

[Carol]

Just checking flights and discovered that there is threatened! Strike action by the French air traffic from Monday 6th to Friday 10th March!!!

 

[alcanadakid]

Thanks for the heads up.

This will affect us as we are flying back on Tuesday.

"Frustrating" is the most polite word that I can use

 

[Diver Val]

Oh no!! We are supposed to be flying out on Monday with Jet2from Newcastle! What do we do to get there if we cannot fly over France? Do you think that they might detour out and over the bay of biscay, thus avoiding France altogether?

 

[alcanadakid]

Oh no!! We are supposed to be flying out on Monday with Jet2from Newcastle! What do we do to get there if we cannot fly over France? Do you think that they might detour out and over the bay of biscay, thus avoiding France altogether?

In past years the flights have still gone over France but at a reduced rate meaning some flights are delayed and some are cancelled. Previously the earlier the flight the less chance it is cancelled as the backlog increases throughout the day.

I would imagine the bay of Biscay still is in the French airspace, but I am not certain. The alternative routes are going to be full too.

At least the airlines have had time to plan for this, but that is not a lot of consolation.

We are stuck too and not sure what will happen to our flight on Tuesday afternoon.

 

[joey36]

Oh no!! We are supposed to be flying out on Monday with Jet2from Newcastle! What do we do to get there if we cannot fly over France? Do you think that they might detour out and over the bay of biscay, thus avoiding France altogether?

French airspace does indeed encompass the whole of the Bay of Biscay in fact it goes much further west, past 6w.For this reason,unless you are going to Madeira or the Canaries, airlines tend to re-route to the east of France where airspace is allotted along national borders and extra distance is kept to a minimum.
Even so,if every airline is re-routing the same way,delays will be inevitable.

Good luck

 

[alcanadakid]

It seems as though today's easyjet Gatwick flights are not affected. Hopefully they are not tomorrow!

 

[alcanadakid]

Today's inbound flight was on time, but then we waited for 2 hours on the plane for a take off slot.