Worker Action Grounds Flights At Paris Orly

A strike by French air traffic controllers caused the mass cancellation of flights at Orly airport, south of Paris Monday. Charles de Gaulle airport, to the north of the capital, was unaffected. However, the national civil aviation agency (DGAC) says the strike over reorganization of air traffic control could spread as the week goes on. The focus of the labor conflict is a plan to relocate more staff in the Roissy region where Charles de Gaulle airport is located, around 35km north of the capital.

"What shocks us is that this was done without simulation tests or justification," said Harold Quesnel, a representative from the CGT union, one of two trade unions that called the strike.

About 40 percent of Air France short-haul and medium distance flights in and out of Orly were grounded today, as well as a similar proportion of flights run by other airlines. The strike is due to last until Friday, widening beyond Orly tomorrow, according to a statement from the DGAC. Media said things were relatively calm at Orly airport and that many travelers had apparently stayed away after an announcement that unions had served strike notice.

FMI: http://www.paris.org/Accueil/Airport