Almost 300,000 travelers have faced delays and cancellations as a result of a two -day strike by French air traffic drivers.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, led to the cancellation of almost 1,500 flights in Europe.
Airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France were strongly affected.
Easyjet canceled 274 flights during the two days, with 150 cancellations only on Thursday.
Ryanair initially canceled 170 flights, but then raised that figure to 468, affecting around 70,000 passengers.
The strike was organized by two unions that protested by the lack of personnel, the obsolete team and the bad working conditions.
Although not all unions joined, the interruption extended widely, affecting flights through and on French airspace.
In Paris, Charles de Gaulle, Orly, and Beauvais airports canceled 40 percent of scheduled flights.
Nice was hit even harder, with half of all discarded flights.
Other cities like Lyon and Marseille saw that about 30 percent of the flights were canceled.
The French aviation authorities warned that the delays would continue beyond the strike.
Travelers in the main airports of France, Spain and the United Kingdom faced long lines and packed terminals.
In St Pancras in London, Eurostar services were also delayed due to unrelated road problems.
British Airways responded using larger airplanes to accommodate stranded passengers.
Easyjet advised customers to check their flight tracker to obtain real -time updates.
Lufthansa and Air France reduced short -distance services, although Air France said long distance flights were not affected.
The moment of the strike, just as France's summer holidays begin, left many frustrated families.
Some passengers had to buy expensive train tickets after their flights were canceled.
Others waited hours at airports with little information or support.
The French prime minister, Francois Bayrou, described the “shocking” strike and accused the unions of retaining the public hostage.
Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the strike would cost the airlines millions and described the unacceptable action.
Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, criticized the EU for not protecting the flying ones that do not land in France.
He argued that flights that pass through French airspace should even afford during strikes.
Travelers are urged to monitor the flight state frequently and reach airports early.
It is recommended to use manual luggage to avoid delays in check-in and luggage claims.
Passengers should prepare laptops and liquids correctly to accelerate safety controls.
Canceled flights qualify for reimbursements, but not EU compensation because the strike is an extraordinary circumstance.
Some travel insurance policies can cover additional costs such as hotels or lost connections.
The strikes were directed by UNSA-ICNA and USAC-CGT, two unions that demanded urgent reforms in air traffic control.
They are asking for more personnel, better tools and the end of what they call toxic management.
The strike involved 272 controllers of approximately 1,000 service.
Authorities say that the equipment used in French air traffic control is outdated and excessive.
There are concerns about security and almost failures, such as the one that is recently reported in Bordeaux.
They could follow more strikes if an agreement is not reached, adding pressure to the already occupied travel season of Europe.
Passengers are recommended to remain flexible, remain informed and verify the updates of the airlines before going to the airport.
(Email one)
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