Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled As A Result of French ATC Strike

France Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) have declared a two day nationwide strike which has left hundreds of passengers at the loosing end. The strike was said to have been originally scheduled for March 25-27 this year but was abruptly cancelled due to the Germanwings Crash  which led to the loss of all 150 people aboard the flight.

The strike follows SNCTA's unauthorization of French Civil Aviation's decision to raise the retirement age for government workers from the previous 67 years to 69 years. SNCTA stands for Syndicat autonome des controleurs du trafic aerien which is France's largest union of Air Traffic Controllers.

Another reason sited for the strike action is over working conditions.

The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) has asked airlines to cut their flights by 40% as short and medium -haul flights to and from France have been cancelled.

Further strikes are scheduled for 16th-18th of April as well as 29 April - May 2nd.

Airlines experiencing significant impact of the two-day strike include Ryanair and EasyJet with Ryanair cancelling 250 flights and EasyJet cancelling 118 flights to and from France,including 10 flights to and from the UK.