All airlines are expected to be affected by strikes or cancellations this summer. In question, a lack of staff and unions claiming higher wages.
The summer promises to be complicated for airlines. For now, they all seem to be affected by strikes and cancellations in the coming weeks.
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In an open letter, the European Transport Workers’ Federation said on Monday that “the chaos facing the airline industry will only get worse throughout the summer».
Air France and Transavia affected by pilot strike
The Air France-KLM group is “says ready for this summer“, said its general manager, Benjamin Smith last week. The company emphasizesthe hiring of 300 pilots, 200 mechanics and 200 seasonal ground handling agents» at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle and Orly airports. Thanks to these recruitments, Air France “did not cancel flights this summer, having anticipated the resumption” tourism.
But a strike is already planned by the pilots’ union, Alter, for Saturday June 25. Among the airports concerned, Charles-de-Gaulle, Orly, andpotentially Toulouse, Nice and Marseille», indicates Alexandre Rio, president of Alter. He adds that Transavia is also impacted by this strike, only at Orly airport. In all, around twenty flights from the two companies are targeted. “These are long and short haul flights. Two out of four flights to Calvi (Corsica) should be affected», adds Alexandre Rio. In addition to this pilot strike, Transavia has “canceled 3% of its flights for July and August“. According to the company, this will allow it “to better ensure the robustness and punctuality of its program». «We have informed all the passengers concerned now and we have proposed a rerouting solution for 95% of them between D-1 and D+1.“, Communicates the company.
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The National Union of Commercial Flight Crew (SNPNC) also announces that a notice “will be posted in the next few days», only for Transavia. The dates of the strike are not yet confirmed by the inter-union but they “will last until the end of summer“, specifies Nicolas Bessalam, representative of the union section of the SNPNC. The airports of Orly, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier should be targeted by this strike. Nicolas Bessalam emphasizes that “92% of Transavia pursers and 88% of hostesses and stewards are ready to follow the movement“. The objective is to obtain a salary increase. He assures him,summer will be very complicated».
A difficult summer for Ryanair
The airline Ryanair will be the most affected by the strikes: June 25 in Italy, June 25 and 26 in France, June 24, 25 and 26 in Belgium, Portugal and Spain and June 30, 1 and 2 July again in Spain. Among the airports potentially affected, Ryanair has four air bases in France: Marseille, Toulouse, Beauvais and Bordeaux. “The company does not respect the rest times, nor the working conditions provided for by the civil aviation code», asks Damien Mourgues, SNPNC-FO delegate. A strike has already been carried out on June 12 and 13, canceling 25% of flights in France.
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Ryanair management called on June 17 to resume negotiations with the unions. The CEO, Michael O’Leary, assured that the strikes would not disrupt the activity of the low cost company: “Most flights will continue to operate, even if a “Mickey” union goes on strike in Spain.“If the discussions are not conclusive, Damien Mourgues does not rule out new strikes, “especially around the July 14 bridge“. Contacted by Le FigaroRyanair did not respond to the solicitations.
Cancellations to be expected at easyJet
If your holiday destination is in Spain, beware of easyJet cancellations. The Spanish Workers’ Union has filed a strike notice for July 1, 2 and 3, as well as for July 15, 16, 17 and 29, 30, 31 at the airports of Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca. At this stage, only the weekend of July 23 and 24 is spared.
On the French side, the SNPNC union representative, William Bourdon, points out that “negotiations are underwaywith the airline, and that theyare quite positive». «We will try to do our best for passengers and not disrupt their holiday too much.“, he adds. The SNPNC denounces a lack of staff, leading to a “planning instability“. According to William Bourdon,there will be cancellations for sure», car les «additional staff will not arrive before July». «It’s over for this summer“, he adds.
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The company easyJet mentions that it “continue to work on the flight program». «The vast majority of our customers will not be affected. For impacted customers, they may be switched back to another easyJet flight within 24 hours. We will inform affected customers directly in the coming days with their options: transfer to another flight, rebook or receive a refund.».
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