Air traffic in parts of Europe is being affected by a strike of French air traffic controllers, scheduled to last through tomorrow. As a result of the strike, French airspace is closed to most flights, even those not landing in France. Some flights are allowed to operate at French airports.
The air traffic controllers are striking over their concerns over Europe’s move to a “Single European Sky,” a plan to end individual countries’ control over airspace and to create a more effective all-European air traffic control system. The controllers fear job losses, and believe that industry pressure is leading to more dangerous conditions.
Air traffic controller strikes in Spain, over grievances, have also caused disruptions several times this month.
In response, a group of airlines has banded together to ask the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, to legislate changes that would limit the effect of such strikes. They believe that the pace toward all-European air control is too slow, that airspace should be open for flyover even if ground controllers are on strike, and for “first-step measures” to allow controllers’ grievances to be heard short of a strike.
Among the airlines in the group, which met Wednesday in Brussels, are Air France/KLM, Lufthansa, Easyjet, Ryanair and International Airlines Group (which includes British Air, Iberia and Vueling).
