Holidaymakers are facing further travel misery after British Airways announced it had cancelled dozens of flights due to planned strike action by French air traffic controllers.
A total of 62 flights to and from Gatwick and Heathrow will be grounded just before and during the 32-hour strike, which begins at 2000GMT on Monday.
A further 12 return services operated by BA’s CitiExpress from UK regional airports have also been cancelled.
A BA spokesman warned that, although 19 flights from Heathrow remain unaffected, many are likely to be caught up in the strike, with re-routing a possibility.
Festive chaos
It comes as British air traffic controllers continue talks to avoid a fifteen minute walkout.
Officials from the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) want a bigger pay offer from BAA – which owns seven airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.
Strikes have been called starting on November 28.
They would also take in four dates in December, including the day before Christmas Eve – traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the period – as well as for 2 January, impacting on New Year travel.
Across the Channel, French truckers are also preparing to set up road blockades from 2200GMT on Sunday in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Ports are bound to be targeted by the action – hitting cross-Channel ferry passengers and UK hauliers.
The British freight transport industry was severely hit by lengthy action by French transport workers back in 1996 and 1997.
By: Saab 2000 - 24th November 2002 at 13:34
RE: French air strikes hit UK flights
There seems like there is no halt to the French’s favourite pastime: Striking.Zut alors!
By: kev35 - 24th November 2002 at 11:49
RE: French air strikes hit UK flights
Andrew,
“Seems everyone’s going on strike lately. The UK fire-fighters have started of a trend!
Its a shame though that it must cause so much disruption to
others. 🙁 “
That’s the whole point though isn’t it? The firefighters want the armed forces crews to fail thereby bringing pressure on the Government to agree to their demands. The french are doing the same with the ATC strikes and the security and fire personnel at BAA airports are hoping to do the same. The situation in the UK will only get worse as other trade unions are now pledging support to the firefighters. Apparently, some London underground personnel refused to work during the firefighters strike on the grounds of safety and have been forced to work on under the threat of dismissal.
I fear we are about to embark on another “winter of discontent.”
Regards,
kev35
By: A330Crazy - 24th November 2002 at 10:33
RE: French air strikes hit UK flights
Seems everyone’s going on strike lately. The UK fire-fighters have started of a trend!
Its a shame though that it must cause so much disruption to others. 🙁
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November 24, 2002 at 10:26 am